In the villages of Slavonia (Eastern Croatia), we can still find some old traditions related to Christmas celebration. For example, on the day of the Christmas Eve, the man of the family should take care of the livestock and feed them abundantly, because they should also feel the joy of the Christmas holidays. All the work in the household should be done (cleaning, decoration, getting groceries, chopping wood, cooking etc.) before the evening bell, after which the host of the house announces the start of the dinner. It is customary that a family should not eat lunch on the day of the Christmas Eve, because everybody fast until evening. Dinner on Christmas Eve is fasting (non-fat) but the choice of food and drinks is special (Christmas bread, fish, etc.). Specially prepared dishes are marked with Christian symbols, and meals are intertwined with Christmas toasts and customs that are directed to the social and economic well-being of family members.

When the evening bell rings, straw is brought into the house, and then the children jump on it and play. Somewhere this straw is not only spread on the ground but also placed on a table under a tablecloth. The straw that is brought into the house symbolizes the straw on which Jesus was born and it is believed that with it comes peace and God's blessing. When that is over, along with the Christmas song and joy, a “krizban” (pine) is decorated. At midnight, the whole family goes to church on midnight mass. When they come home after that it is already Christmas, and it is celebrated with joy and happiness.

One interesting tradition is that the first-born male children go felicitate and visit the houses in the neighborhood at dawn of the Christmas day. The boys wish an abundance of fruit and grains in the new year to the neighbours, and afterwards they are treated with the biggest sausage and all sorts of sweets.

Christmas Eve in the city has preserved only a part of the village traditions, but it is celebrated with a Christmas tree, with a home version of Nativity scene, with singing or listening to Christmas songs and with a specially prepared dinner. The most important thing is the vigil in anticipation of midnight. Participation in Midnight Mass is also considered important by those who do not go to Mass regularly on Sundays.