Three Unusual, but Fun International Destinations to Celebrate Christmas

Depending upon who you ask, Christmas is either a Christian holiday or a pagan holiday co-opted by Roman Emperor Justinian, from the old Roman Saturnalia to mark the winter solstice, as a way to replace the sun worship of the ancient Romans.

It doesn't really much matter how it got started, Christmas is a time of merriment and sharing that is enjoyed by people around the world. American commercialization of the holiday, from NORAD tracking Santa's sleigh, to images of jolly old Saint Nick promoting Coca Cola on billboards has sort of given the US some domination over the holiday. While celebrating Christmas in the US does bring many of fond memories, there are also some foreign locales where a great time can be had. Over the years, I've probably celebrated Christmas abroad as often as I have in the states, and except for one holiday in the 70s when I spent part of the time being bombarded by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong rockets, they were all memorable.

Of all the places in which I've celebrated the Christmas holiday, though, the following three stand out as my favorites:

Copenhagen, Denmark: Despite its origins, I've always associated Christmas with Santa Claus, and Santa Claus with the northern regions of the planet. Copenhagen is not the northernmost Scandinavian city, but it is one that for me is the most Christmassy. For starters, stuck in among its modern buildings are old structures that evoke images of medieval times and Christmas's past. During November and December, for instance, Copenhagen's Nyhavn is completely transformed in to a Christmas market where you will find entertainment, food galore, Nordic crafts, special Christmas brews, mulled wine, and just about everything else you'd associate with the Noel season. The nice thing too is that most of the music and entertainment is free. Every year, the Tivoli in Copenhagen offers a traditional Christmas atmosphere complete with elves, market, music, and special sweets for all ages.

Tivoli

Vesterbrpgade 3

Kabenhavn

Tel. +45 3315 1001

info@tivoli.dk

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam: While the majority of Vietnamese are Buddhist, the country also has the largest number of Catholics in Asia outside the Philippines. After 1950, most of the Catholics in the north relocated to the area around Saigon - which is what most residents still call Ho Chi Minh City, and Bien Hoa. What this means is that Christmas is a big holiday here. The area, especially around the cathedral located not too far from Unification Palace, lights up like Times Square, with vendors hawking decorations and religious themed cards quite openly. Traveling through areas around the city where large numbers of Catholics live, it is not at all unusual to see large murals depicting the Nativity painted on walls of buildings adjacent to Communist Party buildings, and masses are well attended throughout the month of December. The historic Caravelle Hotel, where press conferences were held during the Vietnam War, located near down town, is still one of the best places to stay in the city; although in the past few years a number of luxurious five-star hotels have also opened.

Caravelle Hotel

Lam Son Square, District 1

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-hotel-338395-caravelle_hotel-i

Oberammergau, Germany. Located in Garmisch-Partenkirchen District in the southern German state of Bavaria, Oberammergau is best known for its production of the Passion Play which is performed there every ten years. A center of Bavarian culture, it is also a great place to spend Christmas, with people in colorful traditional costumes, small Bavarian bands playing in almost every little inn and restaurant throughout the town, and traditional buildings, making it look like the set of a period movie about Christmas. Nestled at the foot of the Ammergauer Alps between the peaks of Kofel and Laber, Oberammergau is also one of the most photogenic places in Germany at any time of year.

Oberammergau has retained its rustic charm and kept many of the chain stores at bay with most business in the hands of local residents. I first visited there in the 1960s, and upon returning in 2007, found that I could still locate myself with landmarks remembered from my first visit.

With most of its inns and hotels offering fantastic views of the majestic Alps, the choice of a place to stay is open to personal whim.

Just log onto travel.yahoo.com and pick the one that strikes your fancy.