Santa Claus and Winter Festivals

Santa in his traditional red and white outfit looking nice and rotund with his belly held in by a big black belt, a sack swung over one shoulder and his ruddy cheeks and cheerful ho ho ho.  A big plate piled with Turkey, kilted sausages, roast potatoes, and all the trimmings.  Christmas carols playing in the background, and kids playing in the snow building snowmen and racing sleighs down the hill.

Everyone has their own version of what makes Christmas feel ‘right’ to them.  Built up from traditions that have grown within their family when they were children and ‘new’ traditions added as we grow and marry and have kids of our own.  For some it wouldn’t be Christmas without the hanging of the Christmas stocking at the end of the bed or next to the fireplace, for others it’s listening to the Queen’s speech on Christmas day after a full meal that makes it right. 

Whatever your choice though, for most people Christmas is about having fun, giving gifts, and spending time with family and friends.  With more and more hotels and restaurants staying open on Christmas day however, people are building new traditions where they celebrate this feast day being waited on by others instead of having to do all the hard work of cooking and cleaning up the mess afterwards.  There is lots of choice available but many places stick to the traditional fayre of the season, so if you’re not a turkey fan, you may find yourself better off cooking at home.  Even if you don’t spend Christmas day in a restaurant it’s nice to go out and have a meal out over the Christmas break, and there are always loads of places to choose from, but make sure you check whether you need to book or you might find yourself disappointed.

For those people with young children there’s nothing more special than seeing the wonder on their faces as they see Santa for the first time in a grotto, or visiting a large Christmas display such as those that many large shopping centres put on these days.   Even if you don’t have kids of your own, events such as the Santa Stroll, and the opening of Santa Weekend are worth visiting to give you a real Christmassy feel when you watch the families and especially the kids looking so gleeful and amazed at all the bright lights and all the other things going on.

Gift giving is a large part of today’s celebrations, and choosing the perfect gift can be difficult.  Try to take time if you can to enjoy the decorations in all the streets while you do your shopping though, some of them are pretty spectacular, and the lights in the evening can really put a bounce in your step and cheer your day.