Christmas day and New year's day

I introduce about Christmas and New year in Japan. I'm not Christian, but I celebrate Christmas. When I was elementary school student, I was looking forward to get presents from Santa Claus. I wrote 'I want to have some toys' to him, and put letter in my socks on Christmas Eve day (24th of December). I ate fried chicken and cake. My home hasn't chimney, so, I opened windows in my room. Then I slept. I woke up next day, There is present near bed. I believed Santa Claus came my home.
We studied about Christmas in school. We listened some Christmas songs and wrote Christmas Cards. When I was high school student, I wrote letter to Santa Claus in English. I asked him 'Can you swim?' He said 'I can't.' He sent from Canada.
I think New year is more important than Christmas day in Japan. We don't send Christmas Cards to friends, but we send New year's cards to them. We cook 'OSECHI RYORI' for new year's day. But I don't like it. We say 'あけましておめでとうございます' (It means Happiness to you on the dawn of a New Year) But if your relative (for example your grandfather) died last year, you can't say 'あけましておめでとうございます' Because you are 喪中(もちゅう　be in mourning) If your friends are MOCHU, you can't also say it to friends. We can't send New year's card to MOCHU's people. If you're student, you may get お年玉(pocket money) from your relative. This is new year's present. If you're not student and you have children, nephew or niece, you have to give some money to them.
About Japanese New Year→Wikipedia