The Sesvete Prigorje:

In Sesvetska Sopnica and Vugrovec, Christmas was celebrated in the following way. The ''master'' of the house would enter the house singing: ''Born is the King of Heaven''. He would have a bundle of straw in his arms which he would put under the Christmas tree. (The tree symbolises everlasting life, while the straw symbolises the straw upon which the Infant was laid in the stable.) Then the ''master'' of the house would would give  a blessing upon the house saying: ''May God bless us with chickens, ducks, pigs, calves, bread, wine and  heavenly peace.''  Wheat was placed under the table cloth for the fertility of the fields, and coins were also place there for a prosperous future. In some places coins were also placed under the tree, and whoever took down the tree, got to keep what he found.
The Christmas meal had to consist of some type of poultry – a goose, a duck or a turkey because they scratch with their feet. In this way, if there was something which was not good in that year, it would be scratched away and burried. The New Year's feast had to consist of  roast pig because pigs root forward with their snouts – so that we go forward in the New Year and it is a good one.

Zagreb:

My grandparents form Zagreb told me that they decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve, and at midnight they  go to church for Midnight Mass. For Christmas they eat roast turkey and ''mlinci'' (dry unlevened bread which is broken into small pieces, softened with boiling water, drained,  and then the juices from the roast turkey are poured over it, (it is somewhat similar to stuffing)).

Croatian Zagorje:

My mother is born in Zagorje. Back then, Christmas trees didn't used to be decorated with the same type of ornaments that are used today. Instead she remembers having candies, walnuts and small apples on the tree, and they put straw under the kitchen table. While the straw was being put under the table, the oldest member of the family would say a prayer and a  blessing for the year: ''May God bless us with chickens, ducks, pigs, calves, bread, wine and  heavenly peace.'' After that, everyone went to church for Midnight Mass.
Western Slavonia:
My mum told me stories of Czech traditions. On Christmas Eve, they didn't turn on any lights in the house until the firt star appeared. They also didn't drink any type of alcohol on Christmas Eve. Christmas was a very holy occasion.
Slavonian Podravina:
My dad's father used to live in Donji Miholjac. They celebrated Christmas in such a way that his father would carry straw into the house and then throw some coins into the straw.  The children would then look for the money.

Western Syrmia:

My grandfather was born in Lovas, a small village not far from Vukovar.  Back then the traditions were different from today. One of the men in the family would bring in the Christmas tree and then everyone would decorate it together with different ornaments. The most interesting thing for me is that they would cover the floor of the entire house with a thick layer of straw. In the evening, the children would play in the staw and lie on it. Everyone would talk together and sing Christmas songs. Then everyone would get ready and go to Midnight Mass at the church. After mass, they would all get ready for bed and they would all sleep together on the straw.

Lika:

On Christmas Eve, the family would bring straw into the house and spread it around on the floor. In the evening, the family would go to the rural church for Midnight Mass. After mass on Christmas Eve, the children would sleep on the straw under the kitchen table. On Christmas they ate solemnly and gave eachother compliments of the season. During the meal, a candle would be burning on the table. After the meal, a piece of bread would be dipped into wine. It would be held over the candle and allowed to drip  until it put out the flame.

Dalmatia:

My dad's mum used to live in Metković. They used to celebrate Christmas so that their father would bring a big tree into the house and put it on the fire. The whole family would gather around the fire. Then they would bring straw into the house and put it under the table.

Carniola (Slovenia):

On Christmas Eve, they would bake a cake ''potica''; similar to a roll-cake. The family would solemnly prepape for Midnight Mass. On Christmas they would gave eachother compliments of the season. Children really loved Christmas.

Bosnian Posavina (Bosnia and Hercegovina):

My mother is from Bosanska Posavina. There people would await the comming of Christmas by regularily going to early morning mass during Advent. On the day before Christmas, young men would go around to all the houses carring an oak branch. They would greet each family with the words, ''Master of  the house! Christmas is at your house, children in the house!'' Each family would then get a piece of the oak branch which they would hang on their door until the next year. The day before Christmas is a day of fasting, so that they ate beans. While they waited for midnight, they would sing Christmas songs, tidy up the house and roasting meat.  The whole family would pray together while the father would watch over them. Everyone in the house had to drink a small glass of whisky.  ''Keške'' was traditionally prepared. Keške is made from water, wheat and a little chicken. This is all cooked together. At first it is hard, but later is softens. Once cooked, a little pig fat is poured over it. After decorating the Christmas tree, they all go to Midnignt Mass.  Then they wish each other a merry Christmas with these words, ''Merry Christmas, holy Infant! – May God bless your soul!''
When my grandmother was a girl, people lived simply.  They baked bread, cakes with dough which rises, and cookies made from walnuts and sugar. The children didn't sleep in beds because they didn't have any. Instead they slept on straw on the floor and covered themselves with a homemade blanket. There were no Christmas presents. Children would get a few walnuts for Christmas which they would use as toys. The walnuts would be placed in a pile like a pyramid and then the children would throw other nuts at it and try to knock it down. Whoever knocked down the pile, got to keep all the nuts. In my grandmother's day, they didn't celebrate New Year. This is how my grandmother spent her childhood.

Bačka (Serbia):

Early morning mass is called ''rorate'' (according to the song ''The Dew of  Heaven Above'').  Before Christmas during Advent, people would fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. During these days there was no music or fun. Wheat was planted (in flower pots) on the Feast of St. Lucija.  On Christmas Eve, people go to Midnight Mass. After mass, the children look to see what baby Jesus had left for them under the tree. The children sleep on straw on the floor. On Christmas Day, there is a solemn meal of roast turkey, roast duck, and a variety of cakes.

Western Hercegovina (Bosnia and Hercegovina):

When my grandmother was a child in Herzegowina, the men would bring  yule logs into the house on Christmas Eve. These yule logs were three large logs which represented the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They would put these yule logs  in the wood stove and let half of  them burn. The next day, on Christmas Day, they would light the fire again.
On Christmas Eve, everyone gathers together and waits for the oldest member of the family, my grandfather,  to bring in the yule logs and straw. When he enters the house he says, ''Welcome Christmas and the holy birth of Jesus!'', and we reply, ''And also with you!'' Then we pray. The children go to the ''Children's Midnight Mass'' (which is earlier), while the rest of  us wait for the ''real''  Midnight Mass. The next day is Christmas Day. When we get up we wish eachother a merry Christmas first, and then the men go to the neighbour's houses to wish them a merry Christmas while the rest of us prepare the Christmas feast. After lunch, our neighbours come and wish us a merry Christmas, while we young people all get together and go door to door visiting other people.

Janjevo (Kosovo):

On Christmas Eve we decorate the Christmas tree and set up the manger. Our mothers and grandmothers make traditional Christmas dishes: baklava (a flaky pastery filled with walnts and covered in a sweet syrup), and ''tespeštiju'' (a type of sweet cake). They cook squash, sweetened wheat and beans. This is all part of the Christmas Eve dinner. Before Midninight Mass, the family gathers together and the children play a game of rolling walnuts. On Christmas Day we have guests, and on the day after Christmas, we go visiting.

Macedonia:

Fasting begins six weeks before Christmas. During this period we mainly eat beans, peas, potatoes, cabbage and fish. On the day before Christmas, the children wake up early and go from house to house. They knock on the doors with a stick and sing Christmas carols. The children receive chestnuts, walnuts, and candy.  That day a suckling pig is roasted along with other Christmas foods. Our grandmothers kneed ''flower bread'' and put coins in it before baking. When everything is ready, we set the table in the evening and lay on it the food pepared during the day. Before dinner begins, all members of the family break off a piece of bread and look for the coins. According to tradition, who ever finds the coins will have good luck the whole year. These coins are saved until the next Christmas.
When Christmas comes, each member of the family greets one another with the words, ''Christ is born!'', or ''He has truly been born!'' Then it is customary to visit one's parents and stay for lunch and to visit close relatives and wish them a merry Christmas as well.