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HOHO! THE TOP 9 FUNKIEST, WEIRDEST & MOST WONDERFUL PLACES TO SPEND CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!
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This year, we didn’t want to bring you the usual venues Christmas is celebrated at. Boring! Instead, we thought finding the funkiest, weirdest, and most wonderful ways of celebrating Christmas might inspire our FDN life readers and fans from around the world to try something a little different. Something more exciting. Something totally daring!
So, be sure to pack your passport and stockings. We are off to explore the world’s top 9 funkiest, weirdest and most wonderful places to spend your Christmas this year. Hoho!
#9 - CHRISTMAS IN THE MEDIEVAL CITY OF BRUGES (BELGIUM)
One of the most well-preserved medieval cities in the world, Bruges, transforms itself in the winter to a magical wonderland. With elaborate decorations and Christmas parades, the air is ripe with the smell of cinnamon and chocolate. Bruges is also host to a Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival. Celebrations start before Thanksgiving and go on until New Year’s
Taos Pueblo Photo credit: s_mestdagh on Visual Hunt / CC BY-SA
#8 - CHRISTMAS IN A DESERT? NO WAY! BUT THAT IS JUST WHAT YOU GET IN TAOS (NEW MEXICO)
Tucked away in New Mexico is the small desert town of Taos, offering a whole new, exciting Christmas experience. Locals kick off the Yuletide season with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree at the Taos Plaza. The historic Ledoux Street is also lit up with farolitos and bonfires. Locals and visitors yearly gather around these bonfires to extend goodwill to one another for the next year.
#7 - ENJOY THE MAGIC OF A CHRISTMAS CONCERT IN VIENNA (AUSTRIA)
For those of you who enjoy classical music, Christmas in Vienna can be paradise. Concerts such as the Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, the Vienna Boys’ Concert, ‘Christmas in Vienna’ and the Advent Concert in St. Stephansdom, are spectacular. Apart from this, enjoy traditional Christmas markets with local food and drink and holiday merchandise, ballet shows, and galleries.
#6 - CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AT IT’S BEST IN REYKJAVIK (ICELAND)
Is your schedule so busy that you don’t have the time to buy gifts for loved ones? Don’t worry! You are not the only one. The seasonal Christmas-themed Yule Town at Ingólfstorg ensures it’s easy to find unique gifts and is said to be one of the best Christmas shopping experiences in Iceland’s capital – if not the world. The town of Reykjavik boasts quaint little Christmas houses built specifically for the festive season. It also offers traditional Christmas décor, entertainment, food and is open to visitors in early December.
#5 - A CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS CRUISE
A good idea to spend Christmas away from the cold would be on a cruise ship. Various cruise lines offer Christmas cruises. Just think about it; no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning, and no worrying about entertaining the kids.
On a cruise ship, it’s all about relaxing and having everything done and prepared for you. There are a wide variety of restaurants to choose from that prepares Christmas dinners every year, as well as organized Christmas parties.
A good idea would be to go on a week-long cruise to the Caribbean docking at places such as Aruba, Honduras, the Bahamas, St. Maarten, Curacao, Belize City, Grand Cayman, and Princess Cays, amongst others.
Photo credit: Prayitno view Visual Hunt / CC BY
Photo credit: istolethetv view Visual Hunt / CC BY
#4 - JOIN A 16TH CENTURY CHRISTMAS MARKET IN NUREMBERG (GERMANY)
If you are a historian at heart, attend one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world. Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is almost too good to be true! The Christkindlemarkt is Germany’s oldest Christmas fair, dating back to the mid-16th century. Every year, visitors from around the world flock to shop at over 180 stalls. The market is especially mesmerizing after dusk.
#3 - SANTA CLAUS IN A SPEEDO?!
Christmas in Hawaii is a unique experience – the normally podgy Santa Claus comes out in his beachwear for Christmas celebrations. Eish! Now that must be a sight for sore eyes!
There might not be snow in Honolulu (Hawaii), but they certainly host one of the most fun-filled Christmas festivals you will ever attend. And the best of all? Celebrations are not only during Christmas for a few days, but a month-long event that is host to parades, music, food, dance and the lighting up of a huge Christmas tree. Honolulu further boasts a Shaka Santa, standing up to six-meters tall and dressed in red shorts. Oooheee!
Photo Credit By Public Domain
#2 - CHRISTMAS ALL-YEAR LONG IN SANTA CLAUS (INDIANA, USA)
It comes as no surprise that the small, 3,000 residents-strong town of Santa Claus in Indiana (USA) is host to Christmas all year-round. Letters from children trying to contact Santa Claus are sent here in the thousands. In fact, Santa’s Elves, (a volunteer-group), was set up way back in the 1930s to reply to all the letters.
The town of Santa Clause also hosts many Christmas-themed events in the month of December, the most famous being dinners at Santa’s Lodge. One can also visit the Santa Claus Museum Village with structures dating back to the 1800s.
#1 - AND THE BEST CHRISTMAS DESTINATION OF ALL GOES TO …
Oh, come on! We know you guessed it…
Yes. It is the Alaskan city known as North Pole of course!
We are not sure how you are going to get there if you live far out, but it is THE CHRISTMAS DESTINATION of all destinations worth a visit at least once in a lifetime. (And especially fun if you plan a trip with the kids.)
During the Christmas holiday season, the town of North Pole is host to a variety of events such as the North Pole Christmas in Ice Contest that is attended by ice sculptors from across the globe. While there, ensure to pay a visit to Santa Clause’s House.
Furthermore, the kids can mail letters from Santa’s ‘official’ postal address and surprise loved ones! Children will also enjoy outings to Kris Kringle Drive, Santa Claus Lane, and Mistletoe Lane – all fabulously decorated. Those on a budget or camping enthusiast not afraid of a ‘little cold weather,’ can stay at the Santaland RV Park.
Photo Credit By Beeblebrox
So, that’s it folks!
I hope you enjoyed exploring some of the funniest, weirdest, and most wonderful Christmas designations with us. Enjoy a fun-filled and blessed festive season!
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