9 Unforgettably Festive Holiday Celebrations Around the World
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Christmas is a time of good food, gifts and time spent with loved ones. It can also be a time for travel and discovery. With countless events and festivities taking place around the world during the Christmas period, December can be a wonderful time to travel and explore old traditions with new eyes.
In the spirit of joy and generosity, tourists can easily travel to the best Christmas vacation destinations and enjoy local holiday customs, and partake in the many events happening around the world.
Whether it is going to the snowy home of Santa himself in the North Pole, or dodging the cold weather and heading to the southern hemisphere for a more unconventional Christmas, these holiday celebrations around the world are sure to make the festive season unforgettable.
Strasbourg Christmas Markets, France
France does Christmas like nowhere else. With lavish Christmas markets and decadent food, picturesque towns all over France are transformed into glowing winter wonderlands during Christmastime.
Strasbourg is the queen of them all, dubbed the Capital of Christmas: and with one of the oldest and biggest Christmas markets in Europe, plus a giant, glowing Christmas tree, it’s not hard to see why.
The first Christmas market in Strasbourg took place in 1570. Since then, the authentic and traditional market has continued to flourish in Cathedral Square every year, dishing up a delightful Alsatian Christmas to all visitors.
When: November 23rd to December 30th, 2018
Nuremburg Lebkuchen (Gingerbread), Germany
Germany takes the cake when it comes to making Christmas cookies. Germany has a long tradition of making gingerbread cookies, and the art of making lebkucken houses (gingerbread houses) is famous all over the world.
Symbolic of the season, spiced gingerbread cookies are the tastiest way to get into the Christmas spirit, and there is no better place to sample them than in the mecca of gingerbread, Nuremburg. The most famous Weihnachtsmärkte, or Christmas market, in Germany is the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt.
Famous for the selling locally made gingerbread cakes, the Nuremburg market is at least 375 years old, and one of the largest in Germany.
When: November 30th to December 24th, 2018
Need a winter getaway? We understand. Here are four of the best winter vacations in the US to add to your travel bucket list.
Hong Kong Christmas Lights, Hong Kong
If you think you won’t feel the Christmas spirit in Hong Kong’s warm climate, wait until you see what the city does with Christmas lights. Christmas might not be a typical Chinese tradition, but Hong Kong knows how to whip up some holiday cheer.
Victoria Harbor is stunning on a regular day, but around Christmas it takes on a surreal beauty under a cloak of glittering lights. Every building along the harbor is adorned with the lights, which are best viewed from a harbor cruise.
For the landlubbers, there is also a free 3D Christmas light show on the waterfront.
When: November 29th, 2018 to January 1, 2019
