In our country, we celebrate Saint Nicholas (alias Santa) day on 6th of December. The evening before, we would as children clean our shoes or prepare some stockings and leave them in front of the door or outside the window. Next morning, on Saint Nicholas day, we would find our shoes/stockings full of treats, which St Nicholas left there for us.
Christmas is more about celebrating the birth of Jesus. We still exchange gifts between each other and have huge dinner and christmas tree but our presents are brought to us by baby Jesus not by St. Nicholas.
Saint Nicholas day is based on legends of real man, Bishop of Myra, Nicholas. Through the centuries there have been many stories told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. However, our custom is based on the particular one, the story of St. Nicholas giving dowry gold.
The story tells of a poor man with 3 daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of a value - a dowry. This poor man's daughters, without any dowries, were destined to be sold into slavery or become prostitues. When St. Nicholas heard of it, he decided to help them, but being too modest to do so openly (because of the chance of family's humiliation), he went to the house secretly and left 3 bags of gold in stockings hanged on window. (the end of the story varies)
And so every year on the 6th of December, the day when St. Nicholas died, children clean their shoes and leave them outside in hope, they would get some symbolic gifts.
The gifts are usually oranges (as representation of gold pouch), chocolate money, chocolate St. Nicholas figures or some practical gifts.
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