Best Places to Spend Christmas

Sparkly lights, dashing decors, cheerful carols, colorful wrapped gifts and the nippy air-- Christmas season is upon us once again.

Everyone is excited with the upcoming holidays and whether you prefer to have a sunny, bright Christmas, or a snow filled holiday fun, or want to catch Santa Claus and his elves in action or enjoy vibrant Christmas markets, here are 5 best places to spend Christmas around the world.

Major airlines offer flights to these places so you can book your preferred holiday destination fast and easy.

1.     Have a White Christmas at Lapland, Finland

It is believed that Santa Claus came from Finland so this Christmas season, why not book a flight to Finland and visit Santa’s hometown to experience that white Christmas you’ve always dreamed of.

Start by visitingThe Santa Claus Village filled with snow, bright lights, tall Christmas trees and decors. Walk around the villageof deep snow and enjoy different attractions like the Husky Park and Snowman World where you can meet the main man in red or try out their reindeer sleigh rides and many more winter inspired rides.

Make cookies at Santa’s very own workshop - the Gingerbread kitchen, or learn how to be an eelf by enrolling at the exclusive Elf school.

Finns are fond of decorating their streets with Christmas ornaments and lights thus take time to walk around their streets and appreciate the white landscapes surrounded with ice lanterns, luminous lighting and colorful decors.

Indulge yourself with the traditional Christmas dishes of the Finns such as: pork roast, casseroles and various salads on Christmas Eve. Your Finnish Christmas won’t be complete unless you try their flavored gingerbreads along with a cup of tea.

If you are in high spirits, go out and celebrate Christmas with the locals on nearby bars!

Source: Dgriman

2.     Spend a cold Yuletide at Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich’s Christmas is lively and jam-packed. Aside from its ambiance filled with Christmas glow and stunning lights,there are also a lot of festivities, vibrant Christmas markets and concerts that you can enjoy and experience.

The Lichterschwimmen floating candle event has long been a tradition in Zurich for the past 50 years. Hundreds of tiny floating candles made by school children will surely brighten the River Limmat where the lighted candles will be launched to a wonderful journey.

Lift your Christmas spirits with Zurich’s best Christmas highlights such as the Grand Gourd Lantern Parade, Santa Parade, Christmas nativity scenes and the free advent concert being held at the Zurich Opera House.

A Christmas dinner in one of their famous restaurants like Fondue Chalet, WirtschaftDegenried, Sonnengaleriewill fill your night with authentic Swiss specialties. Make sure to reserve your seats!

Book a flight to Zurich and enjoy the warm atmospherewhile strolling around the charming markets in Zurich Old Town and Zurich Main Station.

Source:CS Naga

3.     Visit Santa at Santa Claus, Indiana

Everything about Santa Claus is here! First time hearing this place? Well, Santa Claus town is located at the Spencer County, Indiana United States and known to be America’s Christmas town.

Santas can be found all over the town! Meet him in restaurants, museums, shopping centers and on the streets. Don’t forget to bring your camera with you all the time!

To see the real Santa in action, make sure to watch the Annual Christmas Parade. It’s best to arrive early for a good spot. Another one of the unique things the town offers is the opportunity to write a letter to Santa in the Santa Claus Museum where he also gets to write back!

Santa’s village has its own church too! Listen to the story of Santa at the Historic Santa Claus Church as story teller Susan Fowler narrates Santa’s story along with interactive performances and Christmas carols.

You can also watch concerts at the Heritage Hills Auditorium where different shows like Scrooge’s Christmas and A Christmas Carol are being staged.

Spend the perfect Christmas eve with Santa at the Celebration Room where a buffet-style Christmas dinner awaits!

Source: Alicia Barnha

   4. Have a traditional Christmas at Valetta, Malta

Book yourself and your loved ones a flight to Malta and allow yourself to be captivated by the unique traditional celebration here. Visiting cribs is very famous during Christmas in Malta whenchurches, village halls and even private houses display intricate and detailed figurines of Jesus, Mary and Joseph on the streets.

To get more into the Christmas spirit, be serenaded by the angelic voices of children by checking out one of their featured concerts.

Don’t miss Malta’s Christmas highlight and watch Pantomime at the Manoel Theatre. This show will not fail to fill your night with humour.

Make some time to attend mass on the eve of Christmas, where it has been a tradition for a child to replace the priest in delivering the sermon. Join the locals as they welcome and parade the new born baby Jesus.

Craving for a sumptuous traditional Christmas banquet? Spoil yourself with the delicious Maltese dish called timpana, a baked macaroni covered with crusty pastry dish.

Source: Overseas

5. Honolulu, Hawaii

See Santa Claus donned in beach wear in Honolulu Hawaii!

Different from other countries that usually spend their Christmas in thick blanket of snow, Hawaii keeps its Christmas warmand sunny. But still, joyous Christmas concerts, grand parades and dazzling displays complete its Christmas celebration.

Catch the Honolulu City Lights, a favorite holiday spectacle and witness the lighting of the city’s 50-foot Norfolk pine Christmas tree. There is also a21-foot tropical SantaClaus dressed in red shorts that greets you Aloha on their holiday parades!

Spend one of your nights watching “The Nutcracker” at the Neil S. BlaisdellCenter Concert Hall. You will surely love the ballet performances of the locals as well as the dance routines of some international dancers.

Don’t miss out Waikiki beach’s most awaited event! See Santa and his waterman strike the paddles into the shore.

Source: Cloud

Christmas is a magical time of the year and having to spend it internationally can be a good idea. Which among the list are you most convinced to visit? Share with me in the comments below.