If you’ve begun to dread the usual Christmas routine, then it might be worth thinking about changing up your winter break with a different kind of Christmas holiday: one that will take you off the beaten path, and help you rediscover exactly what makes this time of year so magical.
Eco-friendly or rural Retreats
For many of us, environmental concerns have become extremely pressing. Ideally, we’d like to go on a holiday without polluting the natural world – or, at least, with minimal environmental impact.
That’s where farm breaks come in. There are scores of amazing rural holiday spots available up and down the country, and they all centre around a green philosophy. They also tend to offer plenty of things to do for the kids.
Volunteering Opportunities
Of course, part of the spirit of Christmas is giving to people less fortunate – or to other worthy causes that don’t involve people. You might make a financial donation, or you might give up some of your time. Either way, doing a little bit to help others can make the break much more rewarding. You might even arrange to donate to charity on behalf of a friend, after you’ve both agreed not to buy one another traditional presents. That means less waste, and more money for your favourite causes.
Cultural Immersion Trips
In the UK, Christmas tends to arrive in a familiar form. It’s a set of traditions and commercial practices that have evolved over decades – but in many cases, these are far removed from the cultures that inspired them. If you want a different kind of Christmas, in many cases, then a trip to mainland Europe or Scandinavia might be in order; there, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the culture and traditions of a very different set of people!
Winter Sports Vacations
If you’d prefer a high-octane few weeks over the festive period, then a very different holiday might be in order. Skiing, snowboarding, and other mountain sports have all enjoyed tremendous popularity for decades. Contrary to popular perception, you can pick many of these pastimes up quickly, and enjoy a new sport for life, too. Some of the world’s best resorts are to be found in mainland Europe, too. It’s difficult to beat a ski holiday in France, for example.
Warm-Weather Escapes
On the other hand, you might prefer to get away from the cold weather entirely, by travelling either to a tropical part of the world, or to the Southern Hemisphere. Christmas is celebrated in Australia, for example, but it’s accompanied by blistering sunshine rather than frost and snow. If you’d like a different experience of Christmas, in other words, this is a great way to find it.