In Hungarian Christmas tradition, the Christmas tree displayed on Christmas Eve is called Karácsonyfa.
Karácsonyfa literally means “Christmas tree” in Hungarian. In Hungary, families traditionally decorate the tree on December 24, and the tree is closely connected with the arrival of gifts and the Christmas celebration. Decorations can include glass ornaments, candles or electric lights, fruit, nuts and the distinctive wrapped sweets called szaloncukor.
Older Hungarian Christmas customs also included evergreen branches and handmade decorations before the modern Christmas tree became widespread. Today, the tree may be artificial or natural, and family practices differ over who decorates it and when children are allowed to see it.
Karácsonyfa is sometimes confused with Mikulás, but Mikulás is the Hungarian name associated with Saint Nicholas and December 6. Szaloncukor is a decoration or candy, not the name of the tree.