Top 5 Christmas Celebrations In The World

December 13, 2013

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Top 5 Places In The World To Celebrate Christmas / Top 5 Christmas Celebrations In The World

Widely considered to mark the birth date of Jesus Christ, Christmas is an annual celebration commemorating that event, and is generally observed on 25 December worldwide. Christmas is widely celebrated as a public holiday in many countries, and traditional Christmas practices revolve around gift-giving, decorations, having a cheerful festive spirit, Santa Claus and Christmas trees.

Here are the Top 5 Places In The World To Celebrate Christmas. These are some of the best places to catch that festive spirit, take part in age old traditions, or simply celebrate with family and friends.

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1. Christmas In Napapiiri
City: Napapiiri
State: Lapland
Country: Finland

Located in the extreme North and bordering the centre of the Artic Circle, Napapiiri in Lapland, Finland, is considered the Christmas capital of Europe, and the 'true base' of Santa's operations. Thousands of visitors descend upon Napapiiri every Christmas for its 3 main festive attractions; the Santa Claus Village, the Christmas Exhibition, and the Santa Park.

Built right beside the Artic Circle marker, the Santa Claus Village is dominated by the impressive Main Office of Santa Claus, whose huge clock tower supposedly slows time on Christmas day so that Santa can visit all the world's children. The big man, Santa Claus himself, receives visitors all year round in his homely abode, where you'll also get to meet his family. Over in Santa Park, visitors can assist Santa's helpers in their workshops, or go for reindeer rides in a sleigh.

Napapiiri also has the Christmas House, a nostalgic exhibition of Christmas traditions around the world. Historical Christmas films are screened here daily, and visitors can also view a display of rare Christmas decorations collected from several countries. Napapiiri is also one of the best places to catch the 'Nightless Night', where the sun doesn't dip below the horizon.

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2. Christmas In Santa Claus
City: Santa Claus
State: Indiana
Country: United States Of America

In the town of Santa Claus (yes, that is really the name of the town) in Indiana, United States Of America, Christmas can be commemorated all year long. Many of the streets and landmarks in the town of Santa Claus carry festive names, such as its 3 iconic lakes of Lake Holly, Christmas Lake and Lake Noel. But the best time to visit the town of Santa Claus is during the festive season, when residents really get into the mood of Christmas, and the town is beautifully decorated in festive cheer.

Every year, visitors flock to the numerous Christmas themed attractions here in Santa Claus, including the Santa Claus Museum, Santa's Candy Castle, Santa's Stables, Frosty's Fun Center and the Holiday World theme park. In particular, the Holiday World theme park has 2 of the world's best, stomach churning wooden roller coasters, The Voyage and The Raven, as well as 2 of the world's longest water coasters, The Mammoth and The Wildebeest. Over at the Lake Rudolph Campground, the story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is told through giant drive-by storyboards and LED lights every night.

The town of Santa Claus is also known for having the world's only official Post Office to bear the name of Santa Claus. Because of its name, this post office receives thousands of letters every year from children, ranging from gift requests for the latest toys, to heart rending pleas to cure grandparents from cancer. Since 1914, a group of volunteers known as Santa's Elves has dedicated their time to ensure each child personally receives a reply from Santa Claus.

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3. Christmas In Bethlehem
City: Bethlehem
State: West Bank
Country: Palestine

Many people observe Christmas as a religious occasion, and one of the best religious sites to visit during Christmas is Bethlehem, in the land locked territory of West Bank, Palestine. Considered to be the birth place of Jesus Christ, a major figure in several world religions, tourism to Bethlehem understandably peaks during Christmas when the city plays host to thousands of Christmas pilgrims.

Pilgrims to Bethlehem during the festive season will often take part in mass at churches, enjoy performing carollers or choirs in the streets, or visit significant religious sites such as the Tomb of Rachel, Manger Square or the Church of the Nativity. The Church of the Nativity is traditionally considered the cave / manger where Jesus Christ was born, with a fourteen-point silver star marking the exact spot of the birth. Locals may paint the sign of the cross over their door, and the city square often has a manger scene, and a Christmas Tree with a glowing star set up at the top.

Christmas Eve is when the dramatic annual Christmas procession in Bethlehem takes place. Mounted horsemen from the police often lead the procession, followed by a lone horsemen carrying a cross. Behind the horsemen come the city officials, the religious leaders, the local citizens, and finally the pilgrims and visitors. The procession winds its way through the city to Manger Square and ends at the Church of the Nativity, where the Christmas Mass is then observed.

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4. Christmas In Cologne
City: Cologne
State: North Rhine-Westphalia
Country: Germany

Those who consider Christmas shopping to be the best part of Christmas can do little better than to visit the world's best and biggest Christmas market in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Visited by millions during the festive season, the humongous sprawling market spread over the city centre of Cologne is divided into 8 themed areas, each having its own special atmosphere.

The oldest, original Christmas market in Cologne is the Angel's Market in Neumarkt, with its heavenly theme, angels dressed in white, starry sky, and charming chalets. Directly next to it is the Market Of Fairy Tales in Rudolfplatz, inspired by the Brothers Grimm, where you can meet various fairy tale characters. Situated along the Rhine River at Rheinauhafen, the Harbour Market is designed to look like sailing ships at sea, and with the Rhine Pirates characters and its nautical theme, sells a variety of fish and seafood, seafaring goods and high quality crafts.

The most iconic Christmas market in Cologne is the Cologne Cathedral Market in Margarethenkloster, featuring the iconic building in the background and the largest Christmas tree in the country, it offers regional specialities and organic food. Families may want to visit the House Gnomes Market / Old Market in Alter Markt, with its rustic charm, traditional stalls of craftsmen, quaint themed alleys, house gnomes characters, children’s roundabout, puppet theatre and many toy stands.

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5. Christmas In Amsterdam
City: Amsterdam
State: North Holland
Country: Netherlands

Amsterdam begins its Christmas celebrations with a dazzling display in the annual Festival Of Lights, illuminating selected canals and walking routes with spectacular illuminated artworks, as well as a 20 metre high Christmas Tree in Dam Square, decorated by 4 kilometres of Christmas lights. Locals partake in Ice Skating throughout the city, whether at the biggest ice skating rink in Jaap Eden, or at smaller rinks such as Leidseplein. On some years, the canals freeze over, providing a truely magical experience of skating over the frozen canals.

Concerts are aplently in Amsterdam during the festive season at the Concertgebouw, with performances by the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra or the Dutch National Ballet, and at least 1 version of Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker'. Another highly anticipated annual event is the Wereldkerstcircus (World Christmas Circus) at Theater Carré, where international circus acts have performed for over 2 decades. Or simply party the night away at the most happening night clubs in Amsterdam such as 'Escape' or 'Bitterzoet'.

Amsterdam hosts the largest Christmas parade in the world, commerating Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas as he is known here. His traditional 'helpers', known as Zwarte Pieten (Black Peter), are also an iconic part of the festive celebrations. The kilometre long parade of boats and floats traditionally begins in the Amstel River, then sails down to the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum), where it continues through the streets to Dam Square, and finally ends at Stadsschouwburg.

All photos and images are credited and copyrighted to their respective owners. This post for written purely for entertainment purposes.

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