到了12世纪，圣诞节已成为欧洲最重要的宗教节日。Bythe12thcentury,ChristmashadbecomethemostimportantreligiousfestivalinEurope.19世纪，两个圣诞节习俗，即装饰圣诞树和向亲友赠送圣诞卡，变得流行起来。Inthe19thcentury,twoChristmascustomsbecamepopular-decoratingChristmastreesandsendingChristmascardstorelativesandfriends.许多著名的圣诞颂歌也是在这一时期创作的。Manywell-knownChristmascarolswerecomposedduringthisperiod.

对于大多数过圣诞节的人来说，这个节日是家庭、朋友聚会的日子，享用美酒佳肴的日子，互赠礼物的日子。FormostpeoplewhocelebrateChristmas,theholidayseasonisanoccasionforgatheringsoffamilyandfriends,feasting,andgivinggifts.圣诞节的庆祝活动对许多工商企业也变得日益重要了。ThecelebrationofChristmasbecameincreasinglyimportanttomanykindsofbusinesses.

圣诞节的重要传统之一是接受圣诞老人赠送的礼物。OneofthemostimportantChristmastraditionsisreceivinggiftsfromSantaClaus.许多小孩子相信自己在圣诞节收到的礼物来自圣诞老人。圣诞老人是个快活的胖老头儿，长着白胡子，身穿红袍，头戴红帽。据说圣诞老人从北极附近的某地出发，驾着驯鹿拉的雪橇从空中飞到各家，从烟囱进入屋内，留下礼物。ManyyoungchildrenbelievethatthepresentstheyreceiveatChristmasaregivenbySantaClaus,whoisajolly,white-beardedfatmaninaredsuitandredhat.Accordingtothestory,SantaClaustravelsthroughtheairfromsomewhereneartheNorthPoleinasleddrawnbyreindeer(驯鹿)andcomesdownthechimneytoleavethepresents.现在，许多国家，包括美国、加拿大、英国和澳大利亚，都有圣诞老人把节日礼物送给孩子们。Today,SantaClausbringspresentstochildreninmanycountries,includingtheUnitedStates,Canada,GreatBritainandAustralia.许多商店雇人装扮成圣诞老人，倾听孩子们的愿望。