Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve on 24 December is the evening before the Christmas festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. The tradition of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve has its roots in medieval European Christian customs. In Belgium, Christmas Eve is the evening when families traditionally gather for the Christmas dinner.

On Christmas Eve, Belgian families share a traditional Christmas dinner, with dishes such as prawn croquettes, oysters, game and bûche de Noël. Children hang their Christmas stocking and go to bed early, hoping for gifts from Father Christmas. In many municipalities, a midnight mass is held and Christmas markets are well attended.