Christmas Eve has several of its own customs, cultures, and traditions. The most widely followed one that still exists today which is 'Midnight Mass Church Service'. In numerous countries, particularly Catholic ones such as Spain, Mexico, Poland and Italy, this is the most famous Church service of the Christmas season. People might fast during Christmas Eve and then the main Christmas meal is often eaten after the Midnight Mass Service in these countries. In some other countries, like Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, and Denmark the meal is eaten in the evening and you might go to a Midnight Service afterward! The Midnight Mass Communion Service (or 'Christ-Mas') was a unique one as it was the only one that was allowed to start after sunset (and before sunrise the next day), so it was held at Midnight!

Christmas Eve is also the day when people in few countries, like Germany, Sweden and Portugal exchange their presents. In many European countries such as Germany, Serbia, and Slovakia, Christmas Eve is the day when the Christmas Tree is brought into the house and decorated.

It was also common to bring the Yule Log into the house and light it on Christmas Eve. It was lit using a piece of the previous year's log and then would burn non-stop until Twelfth Night (night of the 5th January/Day of 6th January). Tradition also said that any greenery such as Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe should only be taken into the house on Christmas Eve. Other Christmas Eve superstitions included that farm and wild animals would kneel at midnight in honor of Jesus being born or that they could even talk!