Traditionally, in Spain and Spanish America the Misa del Gallo or Christmas mass has been celebrated at midnight, zero hours on December 25th, since according to tradition, many people believe that was the hour when Jesus was born. After the mass, the Advent fast finished and people started the celebration. It was also common (in my family we stil do it) to wait until 12 or until returning from Mass to put Jesus in the manger in the home Nativity scene. That is why many people still have the tradition of having Christmas Eve's dinner in the first hours of December 25th. Especially in countries where people usually eat dinner late. In most places, though, people eat earlier, and now it's common in many places to have the Misa de Gallo in the evening of the 24. Sad to say, in most places in Spanish America now they celebrate Satan Claus opening presents at midnight and forget about Our Lord.

It's very nice to read about these traditional Christian practices still common in the Hispanic world. Thanks for sharing about it.