Christmas Eve, observed globally as the day or evening before Christmas, is a profoundly significant cultural and religious celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus. Its traditions stem from the Christian liturgical day beginning at sunset, a practice inherited from Jewish custom, which leads to evening prayers and the iconic Midnight Mass, held to celebrate the belief that Jesus was born at night, reflected in names like "Holy Night" (Heilige Nacht). This "Holy Night" is also a time for diverse cultural activities worldwide, including family gatherings, singing carols, enjoying festive decorations, and the much-anticipated exchange of gifts. Furthermore, it's the night when legendary figures like Santa Claus are said to begin their journey to deliver presents, a tradition that evolved from earlier practices where figures like Saint Nicholas delivered gifts on their feast day eve, before the 16th-century Protestant introduction of Christkind shifted the focus to Christmas Eve.