The torchlight procession on the Royal Mile for the start of the Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh, ... [+]
If you have time to travel in December and January, consider these creative, even off-beat holiday ideas from around the world—there’s still a bit of time to go last-minute for this season, or reserve ahead for next.
Edinburgh Scotland
After December 25, Edinburgh starts Hogmanay, a New Year’s party lasting four days, with over 30 events, including the Torchlight Procession and Night Afore celebrations, legendary Royal Bank Street Party (the largest New Year street party in the world), and Seven Hills fireworks. And maybe you can keep going to celebrate Burns Night, birthday of poet Robert Burns on January 25.
Berlin Germany
Berlin’s 45 Christmas Markets feature longtime traditions. One of the most popular is at one of Europe’s most beautiful squares, the Gendarmenmarkt. The Christmas Market at Alexanderplatz features a fun fair on Festival Square, and a large ice rink. The Market at the Memorial Church attracts the largest crowds, with an oversized Christmas pyramid and some 70 festively decorated stalls offering mulled wine and gingerbread, wooden toys, and last-minute gift items. The nostalgic Christmas market at the Opernpalais, features antique toys and traditional arts and crafts.
Trinadad and Tobago/ Montserrat
In Trinidad and Tobago, Christmas brings special Spanish/Venezuelan carols. “Parang” bands move from house to house serenading family and friends. Families greet the bands with drinks and food, following specific rituals that accompany entry to a home, dedication of songs to the host, eating and drinking, and the departure.
Parang is also performed by costumed bands and singers at concert halls and hotels. "Parenderos" consist of four to six singers accompanied by musicians who play over a dozen instruments including mandolin, tambourine, clapper, wood block pollitos, scratcher and maracas.
The tiny island of Montserrat celebrates year-end Festival from mid-December until New Year’s Day. It includes calypso competitions, the Festival Queen competition, and the parade of costumed troupes. Masqueraders dance in the streets on New Year’s Day. “Jump ups” include informal dancing with exuberant crowds following music, choral singing, drama, string bands and steel bands, and arts and crafts.
England
Many theatres in the UK are currently hosting their pantomime seasons, which have a long theatrical ... [+]
London holiday bonuses: Lively theatre. Outstanding (warm) museums, plum pudding, the lights outlining Harrods. Cozy pubs with crackling fireplaces and pub grub like toad-in-a-hole and bangers and mash, washed down with bitter Guinness.
And a favorite memory of my year in London (besides great Indian food) is the traditional holiday “pants,’ old-fashioned vaudevillian shows as much a part of the The whole family can enjoy the raucous fun of pantomimes on different levels.
On Boxing Day, December 26, locals go visiting and gifting. The Goring would be my London hotel of choice to stay during all this fun, mostly for the impeccable service – and just about everything else, actually.
Finnish Lapland
Santa Claus lives in Finland, and the Finns focus on this proud (sort of) fact. I write much about Finnish lapland in winter in my new travel memoir, Places I Remember: Tales, Truths, Delights from 100 Countries. My days were filled with dog-sledding, reindeer racing, ice-fishing and warming back up in a sauna, and the Finn’s national obsession (tango is their summer obsession!). At night, look up to the magnificent aurora borealis, the Northern Lights. A true holiday gift.
A man dressed as Santa Claus looks at the Northern Lights.
Portugal
On Christmas Eve in Portugal, salt cod is traditional, and meat is served on Christmas and Boxing days. For dessert, crown-shaped Bolo Rei (fruitcake) offers small presents, like a fake jewels — and one raw bean that means you’ll have to buy the cake in the coming year.
I remember New Year’s Eve in a fancy restaurant in Lisbon. We ate 12 raisins, with one good wish for each month in the new year. In Portugal, there's a New Year’s fireworks display in every town. Customs include jumping from a bench or a high stand, trying to place your right leg first on the floor to start the year “on the right foot." Some clap kitchen pot lids together to bring good luck.
Fireworks light up the sky over Funchal, Madeira Island in celebration of the New Year.
Holidays on the Portuguese island of Madeira are especially sensual. Christmas carols ring out in the balmy breezes, amid lights and clusters of poinsettias, holly and lady's-slipper orchids.
Funchal's amphitheater includes 250 thousand colored lights, against hillsides twinkling with white lights. And the skies burst with fireworks at the turn of the year. Best way to enjoy the light show? I’d say from a chartered yacht.
