Anyplace where there is friends, family, and good times is a good place.

Any specific place where you can really enjoy if you are not with your family or friends.

There is no such place to celebrate if i am not with my family or friends.

Hi Jayson, I’m going to be in Paris, France this Christmas honeymooning with my wife. We figured most shops and what not will be closed on Christmas, and we don’t have any family or friends in Paris either….so we came up with the idea to spend the day at Disneyland Paris, and then spend the evening together finding a nice place to dine (if we can find one, if not we’ll cook our own Christmas feast). Anyway, I thought I’d throw that out there for your consideration

Hogmanay in Edinburgh can be an exciting experience—but that is New Year’s Eve.
For Christmas, I believe that Christmas Eve is the big celebration in France.
Scott, I think you probably have the right idea for Christmas in Paris, to stay near the touristy areas because that’s where you find places open. That’s what I did years ago for Christmas in London, and actually there were quite a few Londoners out and about who, for one reason or another, did not want to stay home and cook dinner.
I hope all of you have a wonderful time.
I wish I was going to be in Paris for Christmas!

Thanks Cil for sharing this. I think all of us can share there plans for celebrating there coming Christmas.

I had to see it myself to believe it. I checked the Disneyland Paris website, and lo and behold, the park will be open Christmas Day. Wow. It’s no surprise that an American corporation is making its employees work that day, but Europeans themselves are becoming such sell-outs. The other day I was reading that London turned on Christmas lights on a shopping area of Regent Street. Almost two fuckin months before Christmas…I guess Britain is becoming more and more americanized, as commercialized Christmas swallows up such a huge chunk of the calendar year, and Christmas lights are intended to subconsciously make people start spending. Very sad.

The mere fact that there is a Disneyland Paris is the first clue.
Starbucks was embraced with open arms.
Perhaps it all began with McDonald’s? (shudder)
But one thing I have noticed here in the States is that the more rural communities still do cling to the old ways. Most places here where I live are fairly shut down on Sundays, let alone Christmas.
I think that is probably true in Europe as well. When I was first in the UK 30 years ago, many shops were closed on Wednesday afternoons—and the reason why is quite enlightening: Things were not always so kind, gentle, and un-commercialized
Early Closing Day Law
Regardless, France, despite their myriad religious holidays, is supposedly secular, so technically, Disney being open should not be such a big deal.
Any place that is touristed is going to deal with the December dilemma.
Turning the Christmas lights on two months early is over the top—and I am not a Disneyland fan.
However, Christmas Day can be slim pickens for visitors, and surely we can grant them lodging, meals, and a festive atmosphere.

If you’re honeymooning, there will be nothing more romantic than strolling around empty Parisian streets on the holidays. You will most certainly find something open. Not all Parisians are Christian. I’d check out the Jewish quarter in Paris on Christmas day, and on Christmas Eve for that matter. Willing to bet you’d find something open for food, although, if memory serves, the Jewish quarter restaurants close rather early in Paris (maybe by 10 pm?).

Good point, Crystal.
It actually might even be crowded, the most popular places had lines out the door at lunchtime last spring.
The Marais is no longer off the beaten path, but I wonder if there are other, lesser-known Jewish pockets.
I agree that no matter where they go, they will find something open.

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In Europe Edinburgh and Ireland are nice places to visit, Paris is lovely too. One of our writers went there last year at Christmas and said it was lovely, the only problem was finding somewhere to eat on Christmas day as most restaurants were closed.

You should spend Xmas in Salzburg and let me know how it is since I’ll be spending it there next year

Italy, Southern Spain.
Main attractions … Italy has LOTS of history and culture. Everything will be different and they have so many very old things. You have nothing like that, it’ll be an experience.
Southern Spain… there’s culture there as well but I just love to relax and enjoy the food.
The Alhambra is supposed to be quite good (this is an understatement – you have to book in advance).
And if the relaxed culture in Spain doesn’t do it for you, the boat to Morocco is not so far… think ‘totally different continent’. The Hotel Continental in Tangiers is an ex-palace – absolutely amazing.
Spain is fabulous in Winter – no other tourists, everything is yours.

How exactly do you want to celebrate it??

If you just want to be around a festive atmosphere, plenty of places have lots of lights and an enormous tree and christmas markets, munich first comes to mind.

If you want a true american style christmas, I’m afraid you are limited in options, as wal-mart and costco are hard to find in europe.

?

Thats what I remember most about christmas as a child.. The special trip to walmart. Everyone would split up and to go find gifts for each other, then check out separately. But you have to get extra large plastic bags so gifts are well concealed until you can get home and wrap them in private. Walmart is the closest thing there is to being a real santa clause.