My grandfather was in public service, of the type that works 24/7/365 (think like police, fire, EMS, etc). He always offered to work Christmas Day (with Christmas Eve off) so that one of the other guys could be home for the holiday, and so Santa visited my grandparents' children on Christmas Eve. Once their kids grew and started having kids of their own, we all went to Grandma & Grandpa's for a big Christmas Eve celebration every year, continuing the tradition. We'd dress up nice, take the annual family photo, open presents, Gram would make a huge spread of finger foods, and she decorated the house to the nines.I love hearing peoples traditions. Its like chicken soup for the soul!
Gramps retired from public service when I was maybe 6 or 7 and the tradition continued. Christmas Eve was our big celebration. We all gathered, the grandkids now bringing our kids, and had smaller gatherings for dinner the next day with in-laws and such.
Sadly some folks moved away, there was a falling-out or two, and we lost Gram & Gramps in the last few years so the big celebrations don't happen anymore.
I continue it to a degree - I make a spread of appetizers & finger foods for dinner on Christmas Eve and my Gram gave me some of her Christmas decorations before she passed and I always have those out. It's not quite the same but it makes me smile.