It's not a big deal. It's just a nice little tradition. Things don't have to be hugely important or 'obsessed about' for people to want to do them.
When I was little Christmas eve would be a bath in the living room in front of the fire then a brand new nightie (which believe me was special for someone who had to take a bath in front of the fire. Mum would carry the little tub in, add some kettles of hot water then bathe us. Things were not like they are now).
After bath it was into the new nightie and cuddle up and mum would tell us the Christmas story. Then dad would play the guitar and we'd all sing Christmas carols.
Then bedtime. Mum would take us upstairs and tell us a story and we'd talk about Santa. We'd then hear Santa's bells!
Which I now know was dad downstairs ringing the bells we kept over the fireplace. I was a thick kid. I used to play with them all year round then Christmas eve think it was Santa 🤦
Christmas morning we'd wake up and 'santa' would have tied the living room door shut. (After 'santa' came downstairs one year and found we'd snuck downstairs in the early hours and opened our gifts).
We'd be made to stay in bed until our parents had got the fire going. That was torture!
Then opening gifts. Then both sets of grandparents would come visit which was hugely exciting because Christmas day was the one day of the year they came to us.
My now adult children get new PJ's, hot chocolate and family time because of how much I loved Christmas eve as a kid. Passing it on, I guess. We relive our own childhood in the traditions we pass down.