16 December 2024 | Latest News
Ho Ho Ho! The Santa is wrapping up his duffle and checking his reindeer ride. Why? Because it’s Christmas! It's that time when your grandmother’s oversized sweaters, cosy blankets with books, and piping hot mugs of cocoa feel just perfect. Let’s face it!
Christmas is the event where you want to shove the calorie scale in the attic and munch on freshly baked gingerbread man all day. The best part? No one can judge you!
Ready to jingle all the way? Hop on for a globe-trotting sleigh ride through the top Christmas events and festivals worldwide. Make sure to grab your fur coat. It's about to get all chilly! No passport? Don’t worry! This ride is on the house! Just sit back and sip on your mulled wine to get intoxicated by the wonders of this beautiful occasion.
Keep your head with you at all times, as this section will take you to various countries to show how Christmas is celebrated. Let the fun begin!
Start by heading towards the icy Santa’s village in Finland. Watch out for slippery roads on the way. Located in the Lapland is the Santa’s house.
You can ride the sleight under the enchanting Northern Lights. Or even write a heartfelt letter stamped with the official North Pole postmark to your loved ones. Make sure to dress up warmly or Arctic temps can get pretty hiked up.
Yes, Portland for Christmas! While this country may be off your bucket list, the ticket is worth buying. Why? Because you find the Grotto town shining brighter than ever on Christmas. With millions of lights across the city, Grotto is the world's largest festival as claimed by the city's development director.
Stroll through the illuminating pathways as the choir fills the air with angelic Christmas carols. Sparkling with an endless flood of lights that took seven long weeks to hang, Grotto is a place you must visit in the dark.
But the night has just begun. There is more walking to do so put on some comfy sneakers. You can also visit the neighbourhoods like Peacock Lane to relish DIY displays. (Maybe you might even create one too). Those displays are so good that even Clark Griswold will burn from jealousy!
Welcome to the Hungary Christmas Fair- the city’s irresistible part. The Vorosmarty Square looks like a snow globe that just came to life. Watch the Christmas glow unfold in 4K at St. Stephen’s Basilica. Stop by one of the wooden stalls to take home a few Christmas souvenirs. Dance your breath away on the Hungarian music playing in the background.
Ran out of energy? Fuel your belly up with some tempting dishes like langos (a deep-fried flatbread topped with cheese and sour cream). Or feast hunger pangs with kolbasz (juicy sausage).
Take your American Dream on the British soil! Jump on London's pride- the giant Ferris Wheel to feel the perfect seasonal vibes. Become a part of the festive event with two million others! (Yes, you can put up the status of Feeling Happy with 2 million others on Facebook). Hyde Park turns into an ultimate Winter Wonderland for this special occasion. Wear your skates and slide on the ice rinks in the freezing month. Try not to break your leg just!
Can't keep your shopaholic in control? Shop through the amusement park till your wallet starts to scream. Feeling pumped? Roll your brains out in one of the two gigantic roller coasters.
Want to get your eyes pop out in awe? Watch a Cirque du Soleil-style Christmas circus by Zippo Circus. Tired already from all the weight of your shopping bags? Take a break as you gulp on the classic British Yorkshire pudding or feast on some other country’s staples like Korean fried chicken or crispy and spicy tacos from Mexico!
Just like Kevin from Home Alone movie, you will also feel as if you caught the wrong flight. Because instead of the bustling, joyful streets of New York, you landed in Austria. A spot where Christmas is celebrated in a slightly over-the-top manner.
A place where the crackles of laughter are shrouded in the blanket of screams and shrieks! You are walking on the streets of the city in search of a long tree with trinkets and lights on it. But, what you see is enough to make you clutch your heart tighter than ever.
Instead of cheery carolers or jolly Santas, you’re greeted by horned, furry creatures stomping through the streets, dragging chains and growling like they just missed out on Black Friday deals. This is Austria’s Krampusnacht- a Christmas celebration with a funny twist!
Ready to rejoice Christmas in a new way? Pack up your bags and board a flight to Germany. Make your way to the Nuremberg Christmas Market and get perfumed with the smell of roasted peanuts. In the mood for some shopping? Explore more than 180 wooden stalls that look like little houses.
You will find everything there from handicraft ornaments to toys. Need something unique? Grab a prune man then. (Yes, it's a tiny doll made of dried prunes) Weird? It’s Germany after all. The Christkindlemarkt is over 4000 years old. It is situated in the old town of Nuremberg. Is your stomach calling? Don’t worry! Attend the call by feeding it with Nuremberg’s staple dish- sausages!
Why limit your joyful moments to land only? The Netherlands takes the Christmas spirit to a whole new level- in water! Dive your head into Netherlands to experience the world’s only floating Christmas market (No offence to Thai markets!)
As stalls gently waggle on canals, shop around to add some cute gifts to your cart. Want something to munch on? Gorge on stroopwafels (caramel-filled waffles) with a drizzle of maple syrup. Melt your frost away with hot chocolate that is thicker than quicksand, even your spoon might get stuck.
Feeling adventurous? Ride a bike around other towns like Amsterdam where fairy lights are hugging the bridges tightly. Try not to fall into one after getting hammered with wine,
Just like their quirky accent, Aussies take their Christmas spirits to another world. While the rest of the world is having snowball fights and chugging hot cocoa, Australians are out catching waves. The phase Christmas Under Down relates to summer vibes, smoky barbeques, and Santa riding the waves on a surfboard rather than his sleigh.
You will find surfers dressed in seasonal attire on the Bondi Beach. There will be all sorts of people trying to be the next “American Idol”, singing carols in shorts and flip-flops. Before you lie down on the sandy shores, massage yourself with sunscreen to avoid getting toasted by the sun.
Get your feet landing in the land of colourful culture- Mexico. Here the festive event of Christmas is not a one-night affair. Instead, it is a nine-night fiesta named “Las Posadas”. It is a time to rejoice in the efforts of Mary and Joseph to stay in Bethlehem. This occasion includes candle-lit processions, colourful pinatas, and wild parties that will keep you dancing till dawn.
You will find people catching smiles with each other and bursting over skilly jokes. Mexicans are quite welcoming just to let you know! They will open their hearts and their home doors to make you “feel at home”.
Oh, you can’t miss the Mexican cuisine, that would be utterly heartbreaking to do so. Satisfy your cravings with tamales and crispy churros brushed with cinnamon and topped with gooey chocolate dip and whipped cream. By the end of the nine days, you will be so full that you will have to roll yourself back home.
Ah, New York! The city never sleeps as people are always in a rush to get something, even if it is a slice of pepperoni pizza. But their bustling life does come to a slow halt at Christmas. And New Yorkers do know how to make the most out of this event. The festive vibes here are more than roasting juicy turkey or chicken and mouth-watering apple pie.
Christmas takes place in midtown Manhattan (Yes, the same place where Kevin ordered a delicious large cheese pizza in the hotel room). It officially begins when the Christmas tree gets drenched in lights, trinkets, and even stockings.
You can join your friends to see this memorable sight. Feeling an itch to go back in time? Ski around Central Park in the ice rink or ask your buddies “Do you want to build a snowman like Olaf?”. Or chase them into a snowball fight. Warm up your appetite with New York’s classic snack-hotdogs. (Don’t shy away from asking for extra mustard and hot sauce). Pack your suitcases to have the ultimate USA holidays in the lively city!
Christmas is a season about connection, and joy with a little pinch of wildness. This blog has taken you on an adventure to a variety of Christmas festivals and events around the globe. From snowy streets that would demand a shovel to clean up to sunny beaches to soak up some vitamin D in Australia, this event is full of surprises.
So where will you drop off to ring your jingle bells? Wherever it will be, make sure to keep your heart cosy as your holiday sweater. Clink your hot cocoa mugs in cheers to memorable moments and an event packed with laughter.
Still confused about your luxury holiday destination? Contact Virikson Holidays to know all about amazing holiday deals. With over a decade of experience as a travel agency, they can turn your dream into a magical reality.
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