The 11 month schoolyear ends in Late November, or Early December. Depending on the school district. (don't worry, it's only every other 3 days for those months)
On December 6, most kids get a smaller gift on St. Nick's day as a prelude to Xmas. Though the religious aspect is mostly ignored.
Throughout the month, trees are purchased and decorated and family begins to show up at the residence of the (primogeniture-based) oldest member with a large enough household to accommodate. The holiday sales begin with force around December 10th.
By around December 15th, usually the 'Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays debates begin to take the city center. And most businesses have made holiday based adjustments. The auto roads, and trains have gone from busy to nearly empty with family migration being over. The pedestrian roads meanwhile are bustling with carolers and the friendly visits. Over the course of mid December, close friend circles usually gather for a gift exchange or Secret Santa.
Some religious families and churches will set up Nativity scenes and hold masses. But as 48% of the population is non-religious, and Christianity is only at 22%, this is generally seen as a tradition held only by the overzealous evangelists and their followers.
On December 21st, the pedestrian roads empty, and the nation (minus some traditionally Christian families) becomes quiet in recognition of the Winter Solstice. On this day, it is ceremonial to hold a banquet with family, but as this is tradition on Xmas Eve and Xmas proper too, usually families will just say 'F*ck it' and have a feast on the 22nd and 23rd too. This has caused the 21st-25th to be dubbed 'The Five Day Feast' And most families have their own traditions regarding this holiday within/through another holiday.
On the 24th, 'Santa' hides presents under the Xmas tree as expected for the kiddies to open the next morning. Because families gather in such large groups; Dranchindi trees are very large, and the presents can either be stacked so high they'd obscure they average tree, or stretch so far out they cover the whole floor and must be walked over. This immense quantity of presents causes turn taking to be impractical, and most families just either dig in or have multiple family members open at the same time. Even then, this takes most of the day. In the evening, the last of the Five Day Feast is eaten, and other family traditions are had.
On December 26th, Feast leftovers are generally donated, or canned, or otherwise stored for later consumption. Visiting family spend the morning packing their vehicles for when they depart, and the rest of the afternoon is spent indoors with roaring fires, and feast leftovers effectively creating a Sixth Day Feast. Finally, the holiday season closes in the evening, with swathes of the country taking to the streets to carol the season farewell. (this day is sometimes called Christmas Carol in reference to this tradition) Those who stay home are usually up late playing games or visiting before they return home.
After this, the 27th-31st are rather quiet, and even groggy. This time is usually seen as a sort of 'rest' Often, family sticks around until after New Years. On New Years Eve, the people gather in city centers to countdown to midnight, and start the fireworks show. Yes, fireworks. Because of the cold, the show has to be short. And as such, is very flashy, at the expense of any sort of pacing.
Finally, family beings to slowly pile home starting on Jan 2nd, and usually things are back to normal by the 5th. The next few days are used to clean up whatever is still lying about from the massive celebration. By Jan 10th, schools will be starting back up, and Winter goes from that jolly time of celebration to a cold, bitter, overstayed welcome. Besides this, life generally returns to normal.
