Places to visit this Christmas

It’s Christmas time and celebrations are brewing all over the globe. Any old city can string up a few lights downtown and call it a holiday celebration. But to get into the true Christmas spirit and to enjoy the holidays the right way, here are some of the best places to celebrate:

Bethlehem, West Bank – With today’s emphasis on present grabbing and overindulging, it’s hard to deny that the real meaning of Christmas often seems forgotten. For a refresher, nothing compares to a pilgrimage to Jesus’ birthplace. The place to be as the clock strikes 12 is St Catherine’s Church, for the Midnight Mass service.

Santa Claus Village

 Dublin, Ireland – With a cracking sense of humor, the staunchly Catholic Irish have a few novel ways to honor Christmas. The most eyebrow-raising is a morning swim on the 25th at the Forty-Foot sea-water pool. In the lead-up to the big day there’s life aplenty on Dublin’s streets. There’s the 12 Days of Christmas Market at the Docklands, Christmas lights, ice skating, and markets and seasonal cheer in Temple Bar. Don’t miss carols at St Patrick’s Cathedral.

 Ney West, Florida – You can’t get any more laid back than Key West. Warm temperatures, beautiful beaches, and a crowd of people who know how to have fun makes Key West a good choice to spend Christmas.

Key west

 Quebec City, Canada – If you are looking for a Christmas in the wilderness, Quebec might be your stop. Described as a “Haven for environmentally friendly, outdoor enthusiasts” Quebec offers many opportunities for hiking, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling.

Quebec, Canada

 Santa Claus Village, Finland – When too much Santa is never enough, rug up and head north to Finland’s Arctic Circle. The jolly man in the red suit is this neighborhood’s most famous resident. Still, the deep wintertime snow and reindeer-dotted forests go a long way toward offsetting the touristy atmosphere, though there’s an amusement park called Santa Park not far from the village.

 New York City, USA – How can one not mention NYC while writing about Christmas destinations? Surely you know what Christmas in the Big Apple looks like, thanks to countless movies: Christmas lights with light dustings of snow. The world’s tallest Christmas tree is lit at the Rockefeller Center in early December. Ice skating below it is a must for wintertime visitors, as is checking out the window displays in New York’s largest department stores.

NYC christmas

 Boston, Massachusetts – A city boasting of strong American history, Boston decks out in holiday cheer with over 2,800 working gas lamps, trees wrapped in white lights, topped with the impressive Christmas tree located in front of Faneuil Hall.

It is impossible to cover all the beautiful places for Christmas celebrations as the list would never end but these are among the best. If you happen to travel to any one of these places, then you are probably going to enjoy the holiday a little bit more than the rest of us.Nevertheless, Merry Christmas, and may this day be filled with many well wishes for you and your family.

Stay tuned to this space for a Part Two on Christmas destinations!

• About the Author

About Shreya Chaudhury

First of all, if you are going to use incorrect grammar, steer clear of Shreya Chaudhury. A proper grammar Nazi, a hardcore music enthusiast (never seen without her headphones), a professional baarat dancer and a die hard Jeffrey Archer fan, you will probably find this 17 year old with a novel in hand, day dreaming about all these places she wants to travel in the future. If only time machines worked..