While interviewing informants from 5 different states, it was interesting to see some overarching similarities:

• Presence of a tree
• Belief in Santa Claus (whether passive or active)
• Social function – the act of giving and receiving gifts are often a way to bring people together and convey affection to the recipient

Differences:

• How important Santa is (for some, it is important to convince younger children that Santa is real so certain actions are done to keep up the myth such as only laying the presents out when children are asleep. For other families, Santa does not play an active role, but his existence is still passively acknowledged)
• Time gifts are opened – either done the night of the 24th or the morning of the 25th
• Ways the tree is decorated – minor differences in technique and ornament type

Overall, many traditions are widely adopted, although they are made personal. For example, although most if not all participants mentioned a tree, Ora’s family has the tradition of using snail shells as ornaments which, as far as I know, is unique to their family. Stockings were mentioned a few times, but Theory’s family uses them for humorous purposes. In this way, widely adopted practices and beliefs are made personal and intimate to each folk group (in these cases the folk group is usually the family) and the result is sub-groups of similar, but new folklore.