Christmas in Europe 2021

Since Europe is a predominantly Catholic part of the world, Christmas is considered one of the most revered holidays here and, accordingly, is celebrated on a special scale. The celebration traditionally begins on the twenty-fourth of December, but many events are smoothly transferred to the next day. At the same time, preparations for Christmas begin at least a month before the celebration itself and are perhaps more interesting for tourists than the holiday itself, since it is at this time that you can more vividly experience all those regional features of the celebration that are invariably present in various cultural traditions. .

Where to go for Christmas in Europe

Christmas tours to Europe are almost more relevant than trips to similar countries, but in the summer-autumn period. If you go to Europe, then for that very slightly spicy and such a fabulous atmosphere of waiting for a miracle. The air literally crackles with the pleasant anticipation of the holiday, which is especially acute in the old European capitals, which usually become the goal of such trips. Each of them has its own charm and showcases certain cultural and regional characteristics.

Prague

Christmas Prague is a classic version of the winter extravaganza: sprawling fir trees, bright illumination, mulled wine and street fairs. In the Czech Republic, Christmas or Vanos is always celebrated on a special scale. It is better to go to Prague closer to mid-December, when all the shops, squares or just houses already have time to transform for the holiday – a fluffy wreath will be found on every door without fail, and window dressing has long turned into something like an unspoken competition. In addition, at this time the discount season is in full swing, but there are still a lot of goods, which cannot be said about the last days before Christmas.

The main fair of the city is traditionally located on the Old Town Square. She starts working long before the holiday itself. From here it is better to start your acquaintance with Christmas Prague: traditional pastries, mulled wine, mead, hundreds of shops in tiny purpose-built houses with red roofs, thousands of handmade souvenirs and local St. Mikulas to create a true fairy tale.

Vein

The aroma of pastries, punch and candles, bright LED filaments assembled into a kind of “chandeliers”, holly, Christmas trees – Vienna is completely transformed by Christmas. Paradoxically, tourists who come to Vienna often note that they come here not for the sake of Christmas itself, but for the sake of Advent – the time of waiting for the holiday, when the Old Town looks especially magical. In December, Vienna turns into a kind of music box: the festival of Christmas carols starts in the Town Hall building, the Old Vienna Bazaar begins to sound with melodies of the Middle Ages, while baroque sounds in the market located near Schönbrunn.

The must-see list always includes St. Peter's Church, which hosts the most lavishly decorated manger in the entire capital, as well as the Christkindlmarkt, Vienna's main fair, which is lit up by the City Hall building. The highest and most luxurious Christmas tree is also installed here. The children especially like the workshop, where master classes are held on making various Christmas decorations, as well as baking. Among the guests of the square, a Christmas angel is annually chosen – a young girl who performs the duties of a more familiar Santa.

Paris

It is the French capital that tops the list of the brightest cities in Europe. Festive illumination begins to work in the last days of November. The first lights are lit on the Champs Elysees, and this action is accompanied by solemn performances of world-famous stars. And already in early December, all of Paris is illuminated. The largest fairs can boast of the Défense quarter and the same Champs Elysees, however, the skating rinks are still the subject of universal admiration. For example, the skating rink at the Grand Palais is officially the largest in all of France.

A classic attribute of the holiday is the Christmas tree. For Paris, the main Christmas tree is more than a thirty-meter tree, which is installed in the Tuileries Garden. In this regard, France also beats all records – this tree is considered the highest in Europe. Even those who are far from religion should visit the Mass, which takes place on Christmas Eve in Notre Dame. This bright action has every chance of becoming the most memorable moment of your holiday in Paris.

Barcelona

Barcelona is included in the list of cities that are automatically associated with colorful carnival processions. And at Christmas she does not change herself. Spaniards are generally known as passionate people. This passion is also felt in the way they approach the decoration of the Count's city – each street strives to surpass the neighboring one in the splendor of decoration. Residents of Barcelona are especially serious about the installation of nativity scenes, that is, puppet displays based on a classic Christmas story. The most unique and architecturally complex nativity scenes are usually installed in the Gothic Quarter.

Another unusual event related to nativity scenes is held in the Church of Our Lady of Bethlehem. Here they arrange a real exhibition of nativity scenes, while the masters are not limited in time and space – some compositions are so elaborated that they are real villages, albeit on a reduced scale. If most of the cities can be safely left already at the end of December, it is better to stay in Barcelona until the first days of January for the sake of the famous show. We are talking about the Magic Fountain, located on Montjuic. Here you can watch an amazing water extravaganza in colorful illumination accompanied by incendiary Christmas melodies.

Rome

It is not surprising that Rome is the very center where the celebration of Christmas is almost absolute. The Eternal City is the centripetal of the Catholic world, and therefore by December the center of gravity naturally shifts to the Vatican, where the main events of the month take place. So the Christmas Mass, which takes place in St. Peter's Basilica, is a real event of the year and attracts thousands of tourists. Local traditions are stronger than global trends – even today in Rome, instead of the usual elderly gentlemen with wadded beards, shepherds-pipers often walk around, who, closer to Christmas Eve, are drawn to the church of Aracoeli.

The country's main fair opens at Piazza Navona. In addition to the usual illumination and a festively decorated Christmas tree, there are also living attributes of the holiday – living statues and the notorious Roman mimes. Many famous theaters offer special holiday programs, record discounts are everywhere, and the streets are flooded with light. It is not necessary to choose a specific route – Rome has many faces and is equally beautiful.

Helsinki

The capital of Finland is a real city of Christmas. Bright illumination, warm snow cover, noisy fairs and mulled wine – thousands of tourists steadily flock to Helsinki. It is noteworthy that in Finland there is a tradition of celebrating the so-called “little Christmas”. In fact, these are small parties that are held in city bars and restaurants. Music is heard everywhere, but especially loudly it comes from churches. The city's brightest street, Aleksanterinkata, becomes the official Christmas street.

Hundreds of people visit it every day in search of gifts and souvenirs, and shop owners compete in colorful design. A favorite local pastime – ice skating – becomes especially relevant during the winter festivities. “Ice Park” is located near the station. It is surrounded by cozy cafes where you can warm up and relax. St. Thomas' Fair is the city's main fair. Every year, more than a hundred stalls are set up on the square, which offer handicrafts, designed in the spirit of local symbols.

Excursion tours to Europe for Christmas

The excursion component of the rest is always relevant, and during the winter holidays there is an opportunity not only to go shopping at the best prices, but also to see the usual sights from a slightly different angle. During Advent, Christmas tours to Europe become especially bright – local traditions literally come to life and fill with color at numerous Christmas markets. Many tours involve visiting a number of old capitals and simply iconic cities, which are original open-air museums. Unique architecture, a bright Christmas atmosphere, concerts of church and organ music, performances on the streets, live installations – all this awaits those who decide to go on a tour of Europe along with the onset of cold weather.

Things to do during Christmas holidays in Europe

Visiting Europe during the Christmas holidays opens up a wide range of opportunities for virtually all types of recreation: these are a variety of outdoor activities with ice skating, snowboarding or even sleighs pulled by dogs or other animals; it is also an excursion format of leisure with visits to religious monuments of antiquity and various iconic buildings or even entire neighborhoods that are completely transformed for the holiday; this is also gastronomic tourism, because by Christmas various seasonal and festive dishes appear on the shelves, which are simply impossible to try at another time.