The Best Places Around the World to Celebrate Christmas

A happy family seated at dinner visible from the window of a snow covered gingerbread home decorated with a thousand twinkling lights. In the distance, Santa Claus on his reindeer sleigh flying in the sky towards the silver moon. Christmas has always held this magical dreamy image in my heart, which makes it so special. This is why I love to travel to different places during Christmas, especially where it snows! The birth of Christ is celebrated in countries across the globe. How each culture celebrates this joyous occasion is specific to locations and native traditions. Some destinations are more popular than others when it comes to Christmas festivities. If you already live in one of the cities that are considered to be the best places to celebrate Christmas, you’re luckier than the rest of us. If not, you can always plan ahead for an awesome Christmas holiday at any of these five best places to celebrate Christmas. From witnessing the Northern Lights to sunny skies, we bring you a list of places that celebrate Christmas better than the rest.

New York (USA)

Christmas celebrations in the Big Apple have been epitomised in several movies, making it all the more familiar. A light dusting of snow, colourful displays in shops and glittering Christmas lights, it is impossible to take part in all of New York’s Christmas activities and celebrations. So, take your pick from a long list. Rockefeller Center has the world’s tallest Christmas tree that is lit up in early December. Throngs of people converge here on Christmas Eve. The Rink at Rockefeller Center was inaugurated on Christmas day in 1936 and is a popular venue for ice skating. Right across the street is the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. “The Nutcracker” performance at the New York Ballet is a visual treat that witnesses a packed house every year. Viewers are transported to a wonderful land of magical stories. Walking around New York's shopping district is another visual experience as storefronts  adorn elaborate festive displays. It’s not just Manhattan that is so wonderfully decorated but even neighbouring New Jersey is an exaggerated spectacle of lights, colours and celebrations.

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Lapland (Finland)

The magical fairy tale Christmas experience is for real in Finland. You won't be getting much sunlight in Lapland at this time of the year there. The only light comes from the stars and ice lanterns everywhere. The landscape looks surreal and marvellous from inside glass igloos bathed in the Northern Lights; a spectacular light show by nature known as Aurora Borealis. Lapland is considered by the Finnish to be the home of Santa and not the North Pole. With plenty of reindeers around, Lapland has two Christmas parks - Santa Claus Village and Santa Park. You can take a reindeer ride and attend the Santa workshop here. You can visit baby polar bears at the Ranua Zoo or take a traditional Finnish sauna bath. Participate in the three-day Christmas feast to sink your teeth in to pork roast, the traditional Christmas dinner of the Finns.

Goa (India)

This beach paradise is a great place to cherish your Christmas. Goa has been blessed with exceptional natural beauty. The lush green hills have rain fed rivers softly winding their way in to the azure expanse of the Arabian Sea. The landscape is dotted with pretty houses and remnants of a Portuguese past. Christmas is marked on the beach by bonfire parties and all night revelries. Old Goa on the other hand, has several churches and cathedrals that observe Christmas by singing carols at Mass. All the houses are beautifully lit up and Christmas trees abound. The market places are alive with tinsel and embellished with twinkling lights. One can shop for endless Christmas goodies here. The midnight Christmas Mass is preceded by cultural events. The colourful gathering draws huge crowds of locals and tourists alike. If you happen to be in Goa around Christmas, do check out Sunburn Goa, Asia's biggest dance and music festival.

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Read more: 5 Unique Hotels in Goa You Simply Must Check Into

Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Amsterdam is a beautiful city any time of the year; a graceful coming together of medieval architecture and modern infrastructure. During Christmas, it’s twinkling with white lights everywhere that you see reflected in the clear canals. They say Santa Claus was born in Amsterdam. Festivities begin a month in advance. Sinterklaas or Saint Nicholas is a very Dutch character. On Saint Nicholas day, December 5th, legend has it that Sinterklaas arrives to bring gifts to the good children and banishes the bad ones to Spain. There are colourful parades and much merrymaking all around. Christmas Day in Amsterdam is celebrated with cool parties, fun markets, bright lights, great food and general good cheer. Not to be missed are the 20 foot high Christmas tree on Dam Square, Amsterdam Light Festival and the Amsterdam Canal Festival of classical performances.

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San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Puerto Ricans celebrate Christmas away from snow and reindeers. San Juan is Puerto Rico's go-to place for Christmas celebrations. The air is thick with music and songs. Festivities commence from early December to January 6th, the Three Kings Day. They sing carols, eat elaborately and celebrate a very sunny Christmas. Visit the City Hall on the Plaza de Armas and the promenade Paseo de la Princesa. Experience a tropical Christmas with lights, food and lots and lots of partying. It’s a welcome change for those who are bothered by the endless snow and spine chilling cold and are looking for something warmer. Christmas is a global holiday so it can be fun to spend it at a new and fascinating destination every year. Take your family on a holiday of a lifetime, may be even to one of these best places to celebrate Christmas. It is never too early to book those tickets and while you are at it, plan for a fun filled New Year too.

Read more: The 7 Most Gorgeous Cities to Visit in the USA