What is St Nicholas Day and how is Christmas celebrated across Europe?

In the UK, many of us enjoy turkey, mince pies and presents on 25 December. But for some children in other parts of the world, they get their presents much sooner.

St Nicholas Day takes place on 6 December every year and commemorates Saint Nicholas, a third century saint who inspired Santa Claus.

In many European countries the main day for gift-giving happens on or around this date.

Keep reading to find out more about Saint Nicholas, and how Christmas is celebrated across Europe.

What Christmas traditions do you celebrate? Let us know in the comments below.

The tale of Santa Claus began with Saint Nicholas, who was said to have lived during the 3rd Century in modern-day Turkey.

He travelled in his red robes giving gifts to the poor, in particular children.

One legend has it that after inheriting some money as a young man, St Nicholas would throw bags of gold through windows in the middle of the night.

His kindness became legendary and on 6 December, the anniversary of his death, a commemorative feast day would take place, particularly across regions of north-western Europe.

Over the course of the centuries, Nicholas's legacy was cemented and he was popularised as Santa Claus.

Read on to find out how different countries around Europe celebrate Christmas...

You might know other names for Father Christmas such as Santa Claus or even Jolly Saint Nic?

But did you know that the name comes from European traditions such as the feast of Sinterklaas or St Nicholas Day.

Christmas celebrations start early in the Netherlands, and parts of Belgium, as Sinterklaas - that is St Nicholas - arrives by boat on the last Saturday in November.

He travels across the Netherlands dressed in red bishops' robes. He also doesn't ride in a sleigh like Father Christmas does on Christmas Eve in the UK, instead, he travels on a white horse called Amerigo.

When he arrives, children leave out a shoe with a carrot inside for the horse.

Children usually get their presents on the evening of 5 December, which is known as Sinterklaas Eve.

Many children in Poland receive presents on 6 December from Saint Nicholas - who is known as Święty Mikołaj in the country.

In addition, the main Christmas celebrations in Poland don't take place on the 25 December, but on the evening of Christmas Eve.

Called Wigilia, it's a time where families get together for their main Christmas meal.

As is tradition, the meal begins after the first star is spotted in the night sky, symbolising the Star of Bethlehem.

Families start by sharing a special bread wafer called "Opłatek" and exchanging best wishes and blessings, which symbolises love and forgiveness.

Hay is placed under the tablecloth, as a reminder that Jesus was born in a stable, and the Christmas table is set for an extra person to symbolise hospitality.

The meal has 12 courses - one for each Apostle - and the main course traditionally includes fish.

After the meal, family presents are exchanged and opened.

St Nicholas Day celebrations also start in Germany on 6 December.

Children tidy their rooms, clean their toys, and shoes and boots are polished and placed outside by the door.

The next morning, the boots are filled with sweets, nuts, and small gifts if the children have been good.

If they've been naughty, St Nicholas' servant Knecht Ruprecht will leave twigs for them!

In Germany a meal is eaten on Christmas Eve, which won't contain any meat and children will also open their main Christmas presents on 24 December.

Meat can be eaten in a feast on Christmas Day.

Christmas starts on 8 December in Spain with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

In Catalonia, on 8 December, there is a special celebration called the beating of the Christmas log.

Every night until the 24 December, children 'feed' the happy log with dried fruit and nuts. They also cover up the log - called Tió de Nadal - with a blanket so it stays warm.

Then on Christmas Eve the little log is brought out and beaten with sticks by children while they sing a traditional song.

After this the children look under the blanket to find that Tió de Nadal has 'pooped' out lots of treats!

Like in Poland, the main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve, called la Nochebuena.

On 28 December, Spain has their equivalent of April Fools' Day, called Holy Innocents' Day, when people play jokes on each other.

Children may be given some presents on Christmas Day, but traditionally they are opened on 6 January.

This is called Epiphany, when the Three Kings are said to have visited the baby Jesus and given him their gifts.

In Sweden, there is a special celebration on St Lucia Day, which is 13 December.

It isn't completely clear where the tradition of St Lucia came from, as there's a few stories that could have mixed together.

One story says that St Lucia was a young Christian girl who was killed in the 4th Century because of what she believed in.

Swedish people mark this with many processions, led by a girl in a white dress with a crown of LED candles.

Children open their presents on Christmas Eve. The night before, they are expected to leave a bowl of porridge out for Tomten - their name for Father Christmas - so that he will leave presents for them.

Swedish people also have their main meal on Christmas Eve. This tends to be a big buffet called Julbord, which people are encouraged to visit several times to eat lots of food!

Norwegian children look out for two creatures at Christmas.

First is a creature like a goat called Julebukk, who is a present-carrying gnome.

Then there is Jul Nisse, who guards farm animals and plays tricks on children if they don't leave porridge out for him.

They have to do this if they want presents to be left for them, which they open on Christmas Eve after the main meal.

Norway also gives the UK a Christmas tree every year, which stands in Trafalgar Square in London.

The tradition started in 1947 and is a gift from Norway for Britain's support during World War II, as a way of saying 'thank you'.

The tree symbolises the close friendship between the people of Norway and Britain.

Epiphany (6 January) is marked in Italy when children will receive a stocking of sweets if they've been good or a stocking full of coal if they haven't.

This is brought by the Italian Christmas witch, who is called La Befana.

Some say she accompanied the Wise Men on their way to baby Jesus on Epiphany.

She is said to be old, ugly and wears bad clothes, because she is a symbol for the old year which has ended.

A bit like people in the UK might leave a carrot for Rudolph and a mince pie for Father Christmas on Christmas Eve, some families will leave a drink and some food for La Befana.

Like with many families in the UK, lunch on Christmas Day is the most important meal.

Children in Iceland have to wait until the Christmas Eve meal is finished before they are allowed to open their presents.

Traditionally, the main dish of the meal is called Hangikjöt, which is a leg of roast lamb.

They actually have 13 Father Christmases, called Yule Lads!

These mischievous characters are said to live in the mountains and visit towns one by one in the 13 days leading up to Christmas.

Children leave shoes out for the Yule lads, who will leave presents in them if they've been good, or rotten potatoes if they've been bad.

There is a tradition that says everyone must receive a new piece of clothing for Christmas.

If they don't, they might be eaten by a giant Christmas cat who belongs to the Yule Lads' mum called Grýla!

Did you know that in Greece, especially on the islands, it's common to decorate small boats called karavaki with lights at Christmas - alongside or instead of Christmas trees.

The tradition is believed to be traced back to Saint Nicholas, and symbolises the country's maritime heritage and hopes for a good year ahead.

On Christmas Eve, children go from house to house, playing music and singing carols in return for treats to eat.

Before Christmas, fresh basil is wrapped around a wooden cross, which is used to sprinkle water around the house to keep away mischievous goblins called Killantzaroi.

Some people might also keep a fire lit which they think will stop the goblins causing chaos!

Presents are usually given on 1 January, on St Basil Day.

A special cake that's only made for New Year's Day - called vasilopita - is eaten.

Traditionally a coin is baked into the cake as a symbol of good fortune and hope, and whoever ends up getting it in their slice is considered to be lucky.