Different people, different families and different countries do things in different ways.
This selection of old photos taken from the Evening New archives includes many of the elements people in Edinburgh will associate with the festive season - nativity plays, Christmas trees, carol singing, going to see Santa, perhaps the panto, and of course, Christmas shopping.
Scroll through the pictures and get a flavour of what Christmas was like in the Capital five decades ago.
17. Christmas baby
Lord Provost Jack Kane and his wife brought a present fro Christmas baby Rachel Walker, born at the Western General hospital in Edinburgh, December 1974. | TSPL Photo: Bill Stout
18. Salvation Army play carols
Shop assistant Dawson McCready from Charles Wilson' s butcher shop presents a couple of turkeys to the Salvation Army playing Christmas carols at the corner of Inverleith Terrace and Summer Place in Edinburgh, December 1978. | TSPL Photo: Albert Jordan
19. Taxi for presents
Sunday Christmas shopping in Princes Street Edinburgh, December 1977 - a taxi solves the problem of getting presents home. | TSPL Photo: Hamish Campbell
20. Santa's letter helpers
Staff at the special Post Office sorting office which deals with children's letters to Santa Claus in Edinburgh in December 1978. | TSPL Photo: George Smith