The Origins of Christmas Eve Traditions: How They Began and Evolved

Christmas Eve, celebrated on December 24, holds a special place in the holiday season, marking the anticipation of Christmas Day. It is a time when families across the world come together to engage in cherished traditions, many of which have fascinating historical origins. From religious observances to fun family activities, these customs shape the festive atmosphere and create lasting memories.

Historical Origins of Christmas Eve Traditions

Early Christian Influence

The roots of Christmas Eve can be traced back to early Christian practices. The Church played a pivotal role in establishing December 24 as a sacred time of reflection and worship, most notably through the tradition of Midnight Mass. As a reflection of the belief that Jesus was born at night, churches hold special services to honor the birth of Christ, bringing communities together for prayer, song, and Eucharist. This tradition, which dates back centuries, remains an integral part of Christian observances around the world. In many European countries, gifts are also exchanged on Christmas Eve, symbolizing the giving nature of the holiday. For some terrific ideas of gifts for 2024, you can check out  The Bradford Exchange website, and we also offer a budget-friendly option, Christmas Gifts Under $100 for gifts that are just as well-crafted but will not break the bank.

Pagan Roots

Before Christmas became widespread, December 25 was already significant due to pagan celebrations like Saturnalia in ancient Rome. This winter solstice festival honored the sun’s return, marked by feasting, gift-giving, and revelry. It was also the birthdate and the most important holiday of the War God, Mithras, widely worshiped by the Roman Military, whose cult spanned the Roman Empire from Scotland to Egypt. The early Christian Church may have adopted this date to supplant these pagan traditions, blending elements of the old with the new.

Other pagan traditions connected to the solstice and Christmas Eve traditions include Yule, celebrated on the night of the winter solstice (December 21-22) and carrying on for 12 days thereafter. It, and other European ancient rituals influenced modern customs, such as decorating homes with greenery, symbolizing life and renewal during the coldest part of the year and lighting of ritual flames. All of today’s Christmas décor comes from this ancient tradition, to see some modern trends, you can visit The Bradford Exchange website. Modern traditions of the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing and feasting all have connections with these early northern European traditions.

Victorian Era and the Modern Christmas

Many of the traditions we associate with Christmas Eve today gained popularity during the Victorian era. The introduction of Christmas trees, caroling, and an increased emphasis on family-centered celebrations transformed Christmas into the festive holiday we recognize today. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularized the Christmas tree in England, a practice they adopted from German traditions, and it was put up and candles were lit on Christmas Eve. You can learn more about Christmas Tree tradition at our blog post, A Brief History of the Christmas Tree and if you have space constraints or are just looking for something truly special, you can shop our selection of The Best Tabletop Christmas Trees.

Gifts were shared on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day. Popular gifts for children included toy soldiers, skipping ropes, and beer, while adults exchanged books and fruit. Gifts were often placed under the tree or hung on it, and before the 1870s, they weren’t wrapped in paper.

Other traditions popular for a Victorian Christmas Eve included lighting the Yule Log in the hopes it would burn until Christmas Day to bring good health and luck. Families often had parties and played family games like charades and blind man’s buff. Holiday carols were sung and eggnog was drunk. Many attended church services and midnight mass.

Books and mass media were on the rise during this era and Queen Victoria and her celebrations influenced many worldwide. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol further popularized the themes of generosity and goodwill during the holiday season, and these elements remain central to our understanding of Christmas Eve today.

Evolution of Christmas Eve Traditions

The Global Spread

As Christmas traditions spread across continents, they evolved to reflect regional cultures. In Latin America, for example, the culmination of Las Posadas — a reenactment of Mary and Josephʹs journey — is celebrated on Christmas Eve, blending local customs with religious observances. Nochebuena celebrations often include large family gatherings, elaborate meals, and fireworks.

Similarly, in countries like Sweden and Poland, Christmas Eve is the main day of celebration, featuring unique dishes and gift exchanges. In Sweden, Christmas Eve is celebrated with the “Julafton” feast. In Poland it’s called Wigilia, and features the 12 dish feast Kolacja wigilijna, a symbol of the 12 months of the year and the 12 Apostles.

The Christmas Eve tradition in Iceland is Jolabokaflod, which translates to “Christmas book flood”. It was born out of import restrictions during World War II, which limited the importation of most gifts, but paper wasn’t restricted, making books the preferred Christmas Gift. On Christmas Eve Icelanders exchange books and spend the rest of the evening reading them while drinking hot chocolate or a non-alcoholic ale called jolabland.

In Russia, Christmas Eve, or Sochyelnik in Russian, is celebrated with long church services including the Royal Hours, Vespers, and Divine Liturgy. It is traditionally a day of fasting and nothing is eaten or drunk until the first star appears in the sky. The star symbolizes the Star of Bethlehem that led the Magi to Jesus. Then a traditional Holy Supper is eaten with 12 dishes to honor the Twelve Apostles, though no meat or dairy is consumed as during Lent. The table is covered with straw to symbolize the manger and a tall white candle symbolizes Jesus.  A loaf of bread called pagach is placed next to the candle to symbolize the ʺBread of Life.ʺ

The celebration of Christmas Eve varies by culture, but the common thread of family togetherness and festive spirit remains constant.

Impact of Technology and Media

Christmas holidays spread across every sort of media. On Christmas Eve many radio stations turn all programing to holiday music. Television broadcasters show classic movies like A Christmas Carol and Itʹs a Wonderful Life or modern favorites like A Christmas Story and Home Alone. These yearly broadcasts have become part of many families’ yearly routines along with television specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, A Charlie Brown Christmas and Frosty the Snowman. Television broadcasters also create custom holiday channels with merrily burning Yule Logs and holiday sleighrides to turn on for general enjoyment. Social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram allow families to share their celebrations far and wide and even adopt new traditions from different cultures.

Best Christmas Eve Traditions to Celebrate with Family

Bake Cookies for Santa

Leaving out cookies and milk for Santa is a beloved tradition for many families. This custom is thought to have gained popularity during the Great Depression, encouraging acts of generosity even in hard times. Today, it’s a fun and sweet way to get children excited for Santaʹs arrival.

Build a Gingerbread House

The tradition of gingerbread houses dates back to 16th-century Germany, where elaborate, edible structures became a popular Christmas treat. Building and decorating these houses together as a family adds an artistic and tasty touch to holiday preparations.

Wear Christmas Pajamas

Whether matching or personalized, Christmas pajamas have become a modern tradition that adds a cozy, festive flair to Christmas Eve. Itʹs a fun way to build anticipation for Christmas morning and creates picture-perfect family moments.

Santa Tracker

NORAD’s Santa Tracker has become a highly anticipated part of Christmas Eve, allowing families to follow Santaʹs journey around the world in real-time. This tradition, born in 1955, keeps children engaged and excited as they wait for Christmas morning.

Exchanging Gifts

While gift-giving is often associated with Christmas Day, many families exchange presents on Christmas Eve, a practice that dates back to early European customs. In some cultures, it’s the highlight of the evening, symbolizing love and generosity. For more ideas on truly unique Christmas gifts, you can visit our website or read our blog Unwrapping Wonder: The History of Christmas Gift Giving.

Read or Watch Christmas Classics

Christmas Eve is the perfect time to gather around for a story or a classic holiday movie. Timeless tales like ʹTwas The Night Before Christmas or festive films like Home Alone, Itʹs a Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol continue to be favorite ways to unwind and get into the holiday spirit.

It’s Your Holiday, Make it Special

Christmas Eve traditions, whether rooted in ancient customs or shaped by modern influences, are central to creating lasting memories with family. Whether attending Midnight Mass, baking cookies, or gathering around the tree, these traditions foster joy, togetherness, and holiday spirit. This holiday season, embrace both old and new traditions to add even more joy to your festivities.

Share Your Thoughts!

What are your favorite Christmas Eve traditions? Share your special family customs in the comments below, and explore more holiday inspiration at The Bradford Exchange. Please like and share this post with friends and family. Thank you for reading.