When I was small my father put up the tree Christmas Eve and only put the lights on it as Santa decorated the tree. I was part of a big family and my Dad had us all line up by age with the youngest first to walk into the room the tree and gifts were in. Quite a production with music and all. It was really magical. Our stockings(plain regular socks- not fancy like these days) held small gifts, candy and in the toe, a tangerine. Dinner was usually Turkey and all the fixings.