@xp29
From my side:
So, I'm originally from Germany. We there have the thing with the lights - but it is ways less. So you might have some lights on the balcony, or if you live on the countryside/ have your own house with a garden, put them on a pine tree outside or actually on your house. But not all over your house.
(Here in Chile, I live in a city, and people put them on their balconies. Often - I think: annoying - "disco-style" lights with blinking and "running" lights in all colors.)
Then, in Germany you get the gifts on December 24, usually after dinner or church (church is late for adults, and during afternoon for (little) kids). There are two traditions The "Weihnachtsmann" (like Santa Claus) and the "Christkind" (should symbolize baby Jesus, but is displayed as a beautiful, big female angel). The Northern part of Germany is more into the Weihnachtsmann, the Southern part (as well as Austria) have the "Christkind". With me grewing up in Bavaria which is in the South, and having a grandmother from Berlin which is in the North, I got something from both
(The "cover story" was: Weihnachtsmann leaves something with my grandma and she sends it to me - that's why I get a parcel from here. Christkind is the one where the little gift you might get from your teacher before holiday comes, and of course where the gifts at home come from. Christkind picks up your wish list during the beginning of December.)
There are two different traditions on what to eat: Either there is a huge festive meal on December 24. Or it is the day after, December 25 instead, and December 24 is an intentionally simple meal usually consisting of Wiener sausages and potato salad (which are not prepared in any special, fancy way, but just the usual way).
Should symbolize Jesus was from a humble family - or, I guess that's the real reason, should make it easy for parents who have to use the time when kids are in church or are sent away under the disguise of whatever (walk the dog, pick up something from the neighbors...) so the parents have time to set up the gifts... and not much time is left to fix a fancy meal
And another thing: In Germany we have "Nikolaus". This is not (!) Santa Claus and not the Weihnachtsmann - that's the bishop St. Nikolaus, coming on December 6 or the late evening of December 5. He has a little gift, traditionally mandarin oranges, walnuts, a certain kind of cookies (Oblatenlebkuchen) and then maybe a little gift, but really a little thing like e.g. a small set of pencils, or a hair clip. This comes in a sack, which traditionally has the picture of Nikolaus on it. Nikolaus is completely dressed like a real bishop - no red-white winter hat!
Nikolaus also comes to schools. He comes with a golden book from which he reads what each kid has done good during the last year. It's also quite common to have him visiting at home. Usually, kids have to learn a poem or song before which they perform when he visits.
He might be accompanies by Krampus (especially in the Southern part of Germany and in Austria), that's his bad counterpart. Looks more or less like a daemon, can have black fur, horns and such, a chain with which he rattles - depends on how extreme you want it. Less extreme, it's a dirty man in worn-out clothes. Decades ago it was common that Krampus actually hit kids, really, and put them into a big sack. Now that's not seen as appropriate anymore and it's done in a more humorous way but the look is the same.
For Chile, I can't say much, as we have moved here for work (so, none of us is from here or has any family connection to here), and we don't have kids.
We haven't decorated the Christmas tree yet, but I will definitely post a photo.
we just do inside decorations (much safer that way lol)
