Apostle,

I come from Poland and we always start celebrating Christmas on Dec. 24.
Tradition?
Not really, it has something to do with Catholic calendar, and I mean official calendar church uses to set their dates of certain Catholic holidays. It is not about presents, although we open them on 24th after the supper too.
It is something about U.S. - no offense please, it's only humble opinion of someone who had a pleasure to see different cultures "at work" - that those important holidays, like Christmas i.e., are stripped of any unnecessary extra days, to be simply lazy, eat like piggies, and celebrate their God's birthday. Anyone who comes to Poland around this time of the year gets stuck at the table for three days, because the whole country simply puts everything, even retail, on hold and celebrates, like it was supposed to be. They eat before and after church, nap, enjoy famillies, visit eachother, but most of all praise the Lord. Unfortunately U.S. lost the beauty of Christmas on account of sales revenue. Sad...


Going back so swastika, for those who are interested.
It is said the most interest Hitler had in this symbol is it's connection with god of sun in Aztec tradition - if I am not mistaken. Putrity was his thing, and what's more cleansing than ray's of sun?
I do remeber going over it in school in Poland circa 15 years ago, but who really pays attention in school?

There is interesting study of swastika nad it's meaning for Hitler http://www.intelinet.org/swastika/swastika_intro.htm

Sorry I came out with it so late. Like they say, better late than never.