.  You know those little red-and-white-spotted-top-mushroom decorations that are so popular in Germany?  Those represent Amanita Muscaria mushrooms , which enhance the ability to see fairies. The way to make fairies happy, and to thank them for the help they gave you during the year is to leave gifts for them…in the old days, most often people left little cakes and a small bowl of milk by the hearth.  What do we tell children to leave for "Santa Claus", that "jolly old elf"?  Cookies and milk .

p.s.  During Roman times, what we now call Xmas was known as the Saturnalia.  During the Saturnalia, all human relationships where turned upside down, and the Devil was given his due.  That is why the patron saint of Xmas is known as Saint Nicholas, "Old Nick" being another name for the Devil.

Just some Xmas lore…