I thought I'd just add a little about Santa in Netherlands as things are done a little different.

In the Netherlands St.Nicholas or Sinterklaas is celebrated on the 6th Dec and therefore the Netherlands has a huge celebration on the 5th. St.Nicholas arrives with his nigger slave called Black Peter "Zwarte Piet" on a ship in mid November and is greeted by the Mayor and a lot of people at the port. His arrival is broadcasted on Dutch TV. Every town in Holland has a few Sinterklaas helpers, dressed the same as Sinterklaas who help give the presents out. Santa travels around the NL greeting children, visiting schools and handing out sweets and cookies. Sinterklass rides on a white horse called Amerigo with his faithfull nigger by his side. On the 6th of December he depart on his ship again.

Dutch families are handing out gifts on Des. 5th. Dutch children don't hang their stocking by the fireplaces, they leave their shoes there instead. If they have been good, it will be gifts there next morning and if not it will be a bunch of twigs instead.

Xmas Day itself is a much quieter day in the Netherlands than in most of Europe, with traditionaly just a Church Service and family meal.

St.Nicholas/Sinterklaas and the American style father xmas/santa are not really linked in the Netherlands and St. Nicholas day is not really associated with Xmas Day in the Netherlands.