Christmas vacations: 15 of the best places to go
(CNN) — Anyplace can put up a few lights and call it a holiday celebration, but travelers who really love Christmas want more.
Many places have plans to return to a livelier season after two years of subdued or canceled festivities because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
From Finland to Mexico, these 15 destinations around the world traditionally offer up some of the best holiday atmosphere for a Christmas-themed vacation:
Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland
While popular lore would have us believe the North Pole as the official home of Santa Claus and his jolly missus, the Finns would have us believe otherwise.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Close to Philadelphia and New York City, Bethlehem offers a smaller-city Christmas escape.
It is a free, family-friendly event in which a town crier rings a bell up and down Main Street to call visitors to the Goundie House (the oldest house on Main Street). A child from the crowd is invited to come knock three times, and then a local business comes out with a surprise for everyone.
Bath, England
The Christmas Market is illuminated at night behind Bath Abbey.
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This historic city in southwest England celebrates both the birth of Jesus and the birth of Jane Austen with plenty of fanfare.
San Fernando, Philippines
The city, northwest of Manila, is renowned for its Giant Lantern Festival, which starts on December 17 and ends January 1. San Fernando’s lantern-making tradition dates back to the late 18th century.
Barcelona, Spain
On the evening of January 5, the kings (also known as the “three wise men”) arrive in bearded and velvet-robed splendor at the city’s port on the Santa Eulalia, their very own ship.
Cannons are fired, fireworks are set off, and as the mayor hands them the keys to the city, the magic of the Magi officially commences.
They parade through the streets in a magnificent cavalcade of floats that includes camels, elephants, giraffes and dazzling costumes.
New York City
New York is overflowing with Christmas traditions. One favorite of tourists and residents is ice skating at the Rockefeller Plaza rink.
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Nairobi, Kenya
The magic of Christmas is in the holiday chaos of the…