Christmas in Europe starts today
You can spend unforgettable holiday in Europe where Christmas season begins four weeks before Christmas Day.
Germany is the country where Christmas is surrounded by lots of mythology and old traditions. What better time for Europe than Christmas, to experience the rich European culture, the charm and irresistible attraction of old traditions?
The Christmas tree is very popular in Germany and people set up and decorate beautiful, sometimes huge Christmas trees all over the country. In Thuringia, 127 years ago, master glassmakers made the first bells and glass balls, which are the traditional decorations to trim the Christmas trees even now.
The awesome, rich and really attractive Christmas market in Nurnberg has over 400 years and is visited by people from all over the world. You will never regret five nights spent in a first class hotel in Nurnberg during these magic, beautiful Christmas holidays. You will have the chance to admire old churches, especially decorated with beautiful, rare flowers, and the famous fountain named Schner Brunnen. In Germany, as well as in all European countries, St Nicolas brings gifts the eve of December, 6. Santa Claus is St Nicolas incarnation, and is also known as Rauklaus, Klaasbuur or Sunnercla all over Germany. But people and especially children know him as Father Christmas and he appear on Christmas Eve.
In France and Italy, nearly every home displays a nativity scene (crèche or presepe). There are little statues, representing the Holy Family, shepherds, and the Magi. The tradition is respected since the seventeenth century, as well as setting up rich and spectacular Christmas fairs. Paris, an eternal attraction, is really brilliant this time of the year, and more romantic than never. Marseille and Aix, in the South of France, are a romantic and exquisite place to spend a holiday. In France, children wait for Père Noel to come with gifts, Christmas tree and decorations, in Italy Father Christmas is called Babo Natale.
In Italy, even the winter is attractive; Cremona or Modena, Bologna or Milan is beautifully prepared for Christmas, spectacular and sophisticated decorations are all over the country. Maybe the most romantic Christmas holiday place to go is a small old picturesque manor in North Italy, with beautiful Christmas tree, splendid lights, decorations and traditional meals after the Midnight Mass. You also can book private villas not only in Italy, but all over Europe. Never forget Venice, Rome and Florence, their magnificent cathedrals and museums, more splendid and illuminated during Christmas time.
Since many years, in Europe, Christmas is the tradition involving almost family and friends, and from December 24 until January, 6 (Epiphany) families celebrate together this beautiful time of the year. In almost all European countries, the most attractive point of the Christmas holiday is the Midnight Mass, when a service is celebrated by Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox.
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