Most of their celebrations are held on New Year's Day. After midnight mass, families settle down to a festive supper called Le Reveillon. Saint Nicholas visits the children's home on St Nicholas's Eve, December 5 th , and delivers candy and sweets to them. Most families decorate a Christmas tree with lights, tinsel and ornaments. A spicy cake called lebkuchen is made in various shapes and used as decorations.
People dance and sing in the streets after midnight mass.
Most Spanish homes and churches display a miniature Nativity scene called Nacimiento. Saint Nicholas distributes gifts to the children on December 5 th . Wearing a red robe he arrives by boat from Spain and rides down the streets on a white horse. They both travel down the street and Swarte Piet enters the chimney of each house and leaves gifts in shoes that are left by the fire place. Many Italians serve eel for dinner at Christmas.