U prosincu slavimo s obitelji, a u studenome obično već tražimo male poklone.

Because after u meaning in (for time expressions like months), Croatian uses the locative case.

• prosinac → u prosincu
• studeni → u studenome / u studenom

So the base form of the month changes because of grammar. This is similar to saying in December and in November, but in Croatian the noun itself changes form.

Yes. Studeni is an adjective-like month name, and in the locative singular masculine it can appear as:

• u studenome
• u studenom

Both are correct. U studenome is a bit fuller and often sounds slightly more formal or careful, while u studenom is also very common.

Month names in Croatian do not all behave the same way, so it is useful to learn them individually.

After s meaning with, Croatian uses the instrumental case.

So:

• obitelj = family
• s obitelji = with the family / with family

This is why the noun changes form. The preposition s regularly triggers the instrumental when it means with.

Both s and sa can mean with, but sa is mainly used for easier pronunciation in certain sound combinations.

Here, s obitelji is the normal form.

You often hear sa:

• before words beginning with s, š, z, ž
• sometimes before difficult consonant clusters

For example:

• sa sestrom
• sa školom

But:

• s obitelji
• s prijateljima

Croatian has no articles like the, a, or an.

So:

• s obitelji can mean with family or with the family
• male poklone can mean small gifts or the small gifts, depending on context

Croatian usually leaves this to context instead of using separate words like English articles.

Both verbs are in the 1st person plural present tense, meaning we.

• slavimo = we celebrate
• tražimo = we look for / seek

The ending -mo is the key sign here.

So the sentence is talking about what we do.

Because Croatian often uses the present tense for habitual actions, just like English can do in sentences such as In December we celebrate... or In November we usually start looking...

So:

• slavimo = we celebrate
• tražimo = we look for

These are not necessarily happening right now at this second; they describe what usually happens in that period.

A often means and, but more specifically it often connects two ideas with a slight contrast or shift of focus.

Here it is something like:

• In December we celebrate with family, and meanwhile / whereas in November we usually already look for small gifts.

So a is not exactly the same as plain English and every time. It often feels like while, whereas, or and on the other hand.

Već means already.

In this sentence, it shows that by November, the action has already started, perhaps earlier than someone might expect:

• u studenome obično već tražimo male poklone
• in November we usually already look for small gifts

It adds the idea of as early as then.

Yes, Croatian word order is relatively flexible, but different orders sound slightly different in emphasis.

Obično već tražimo is natural because:

• obično = usually
• već = already
• tražimo = we look for

This puts the adverbs before the verb in a smooth, neutral way.

Other orders may also be possible, for example:

• u studenome već obično tražimo...
• u studenome tražimo već male poklone...

But these may sound less neutral or shift the emphasis. The original version is a very natural standard order.

Because tražimo takes a direct object, and direct objects are often in the accusative case.

The noun is:

• mali poklon = a small gift

In the plural accusative:

• male poklone = small gifts

Both the adjective and noun change:

• mali → male
• pokloni → poklone

Here it means we look for or we search for.

Tražiti can have a few related meanings depending on context:

• look for / search for
• seek
• sometimes ask for / request

In this sentence, because the object is male poklone, the intended meaning is clearly look for small gifts, probably in the sense of shopping or browsing.

Croatian traditionally uses its own Slavic month names rather than forms based on Latin, as English does.

For example:

• prosinac = December
• studeni = November

These names are standard in Croatian and must simply be learned. They often reflect older seasonal or natural associations rather than the Roman calendar names familiar from English.

It can be understood either way, depending on context.

Because Croatian has no articles, s obitelji may mean:

• with family
• with the family
• sometimes even with one’s family

In a sentence like this, the most natural English meaning is usually with family or with the family.

Both are imperfective:

• slaviti = to celebrate
• tražiti = to look for

That matters because the sentence describes:

• repeated or habitual actions
• ongoing types of activity
• general seasonal behavior

Croatian normally uses imperfective verbs for this kind of meaning. A perfective verb would suggest a completed action and would not fit as naturally here.