There’s no place like home for the holidays – unless you plan on traveling somewhere totally different. This year, take a look at some of the unique ways that cities around the globe celebrate.
London
Make your own Christmas carol in London this year. In the West End, Christmas lights are lit mid-November to kick off the season. Meander through Oxford Street, Bond Street and Regent Street to be a part of the spectacle. In Trafalgar Square, gather around the enormous Christmas tree given to the UK by Norway, or pay a visit to Harrod’s where Christmas and shopping go hand-in-hand.
New York City
With Times Square as a manger, there’s nothing subdued about Christmas in New York. Flashing lights, brilliant designer stores and top-notch celebrations make it highly glam and easy to enjoy. Grab your ice skates and head to Central Park, gaze all the way up at the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center or snag tickets to the always-synchronized Rockettes. There’s no avoiding the holidays in Manhattan.
Rome
While we adore the lights and glitz of other Christmas celebrations, we can’t help but love Rome for its authenticity and dedication to the holiday’s meaning. Here, you can attend midnight mass in the Vatican, or see the service broadcast live in St. Peter’s Square, and see nativities set up all over the city. Other ways to celebrate include browsing the Christmas toy market at Piazza Navona, and ice skating by Castel St. Angelo.
Sydney
Forget snowmen and sweaters and think surfboards instead – Christmas in Sydney is hot and sunny, with a chance of festivities. Pair your Christmas carols with barbecues and check out the Australia-themed Christmas decorations and light displays that illuminate City Hall.
Edinburgh
The 600-year old St. Giles Cathedral is packed to capacity on Christmas Eve, making Christmas mass in Edinburgh an epic community gathering. Children love the city during the holidays as well, for fireworks that light up the sky, rides on Scotland’s tallest Ferris wheel (towering 108 feet above the Princes Street Gardens) and the Pantomime at the Royal Lyceum, where actors perform stories and fairytales.
Barcelona
Barcelona hasn’t had much history of white Christmases, so don’t hold your breath for one. What it does have, though, are top-notch celebrations like the Three Kings Parade on the Twelfth Night. Technically, this takes place on Jan 5, after most Western cultures have finished celebrating Christmas, but it’s worth mentioning for its glittering boats, elegant parade displays, and exciting markets that make it a land-and-water extravaganza.
Whistler
If you’re looking for a quiet Christmas to spend with loved ones in a wintry paradise far from the fluorescent consumerism of larger cities, try spending a quaint holiday in Whistler. Its alpine backdrop makes for the perfect Christmas morning scenery, and the opportunities to ski are the best gifts of all.
New Orleans
A city for year-round celebrations, New Orleans brings its own unique flair to Christmastime. Visit the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, see free jazz, gospel and classical concerts, and view the decorations and lights that are draped from balconies in the French Quarter. Got a craving for gingerbread? Head to Magazine Street, where little gingerbread cottages take up residence.
Tromso, Norway
Christmas is always celebrated through the use of lights – so why not travel to the arctic circle this year, and celebrate by the northern lights? They’re on display from around 6pm-midnight, and for the few hours of actual daylight, spend your holiday doing winter activities like dog-sledding and taking a cable car up to the mountains.
Bethlehem
For a sacred religious ground, few destinations can compete with Bethlehem. Services and processions for many Christian denominations like Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox, Ethiopian and Armenian take place in Manger Square. While you’re there, see the Basilica of the Nativity, which stands as the traditional birth place of Jesus. Other fun celebrations include Christmas lights, markets and plays.
