May 7, 2024 - Big 7 Travel Team
For a truly magical Christmas, visiting Santa in Lapland, Finland is an unforgettable experience for all the family. Rovaniemi is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, and the city’s most famous resident can be visited every day of the year in Santa Claus Village right on the Arctic Circle, an [...]
November 20, 2023 - Big 7 Travel Team
Christmas is just around the corner, which means we have at least one month of mince pies, Michael Bublé and – best of all – Christmas markets ahead of us. Every year, throughout November and December, Europe’s squares and streets transform into wintery wonderlands, complete with twinkling wooden chalets, angelic [...]
May 7, 2023 - Big 7 Travel Team
The countdown to Christmas is on. Gone are those stripped-down, socially distanced festivities, for the first time in three years, all of the world’s most beloved Christmas markets are back with a bang. While Europe may be the spiritual home of the traditional Christmas market, main squares, shopping malls and [...]
November 29, 2022 - Big 7 Travel Team
The festive season is well and truly upon us and Christmas is looming, so it is time to plan your first visit to a Christmas market. We know how important dogs are – they are one of the family after all, and you wouldn’t want to exclude them from your [...]
November 30, 2021 - Allie D'Almo
Covid-19 might have cancelled Christmas last year, but we’re hurtling towards a bumper edition of festive fun this year to make up for it. While a few Christmas markets have been cancelled and some of the larger fairs have introduced booking requirements, most of the country’s best Christmas markets are [...]
August 17, 2021 - Allie D'Almo
Christmas in Iceland is tightly interwoven with folklore and pagan traditions. It’s a time when mountain-dwelling characters and monsters will come into town and mischievous pranksters leave gifts for children. It’s also one of the most magical times of year to visit the country, when the dark days are lit [...]
August 16, 2021 - Allie D'Almo
Christmas is a popular time to visit Russia, when its onion-shaped domes are capped with snow and its cities sit under a canopy of twinkling lights. But while it’s undeniably pretty, there’s probably a thing or two you don’t know about this holiday. From 1929 until the fall of the [...]
August 16, 2021 - Allie D'Almo
Christmas isn’t a national holiday in China and most people work on December 25 like any other day, but that doesn’t mean there’s no festive fun. The country’s Christian population – which accounts for around 5% of the country – tend to celebrate the special day quietly, but in the [...]
August 14, 2021 - Melanie May
In , Christmas is a festive and fun time. In Japanese culture, a lot of customs are practised around this time of year, many of which aren’t observed in other countries. Curious to know more? Here are some unique Christmas traditions in Japan. [...]
July 23, 2021 - Melanie May
Christmas is a special time in Norway full of celebrations and gatherings, therefore, it’s a wonderful place to spend Jul. The season has a rich history of distinctive customs, ones that Norwegians still practice today, for instance, making julekurver decorations. To help you celebrate Christmas Nordic-style, here are some of [...]
July 23, 2021 - Melanie May
There are plenty of Swedish festivities, holidays and events over the festive season which sees the Swedes practice many distinctive customs. From Lussebullar to St. Lucia, here are some unique Christmas traditions in Sweden that you may not have known about. [...]
July 23, 2021 - Melanie May
The Spanish love to celebrate the festive season with lots of unique customs. There is almost a full month of celebrations, holidays and feasts. There are also lots of different events, for instance, a ‘fat’ lottery, a Christmas April Fool’s Day and a festive pooping log. Intrigued? Here are some [...]
July 23, 2021 - Melanie May
Christmas is a big deal for Italians and they love to celebrate Natale all across the country! The season starts on 8th December, the Day of the Immaculate Conception. The official end of the Christmas season isn’t until 6th January, the Day of the Epiphany. Though customs differ from region [...]
December 7, 2020 - Melanie Hamilton
Are you looking for the absolute perfect place to celebrate Christmas? From cosy Christmas villages to vibrant capital cities, there are plenty of options to choose from around the globe. Maybe your idea of a perfect Christmas is in the Finnish Lapland; the birthplace of Santa? Or maybe you’re looking [...]
November 17, 2020 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
Each year, more than 160 million visitors visit one or more of the 2,500 Christmas markets in Germany. While most of Germany’s Christmas markets are cancelled for 2020 due to Covid, one innovative innkeeper in Bavaria has devised a solution to bring back the festive cheer. A drive-through Christmas market [...]
November 12, 2020 - Melanie Hamilton
Europe is famous for its traditional Christmas markets. From half a century old markets across Germany to breezy Portuguese holiday fairs, each market is more unique and special than the last. This year Europe’s Christmas season will certainly be different than years past. With sweeping closures of borders and some [...]
November 27, 2019 - Elizabeth Thorn
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation turns 30 this year, reminding us all of just how thankful we are that we’re not Clark Griswold trapped with his family in his over-the-top light-covered house at Christmastime. [...]
November 26, 2019 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
Nothing is more likely to get you in the mood for the festive season than visiting one of your local Christmas markets in the UK. A quick city break to get some shopping in, have a few drinks and soak up the festive delights. [...]
November 24, 2019 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
Heading off on a last-minute break is the best way to spend the holidays – but you won’t be spending Christmas just about anywhere. Instead, you should consider unique Christmas getaways in 2019. From festive picnics in Thailand to hot air balloon rides in Turkey, these winter escapes will be [...]
November 18, 2019 - Big 7 Travel Team
Christmas airline marketing videos are always some of the best travel campaigns, because of their emotional nature. The holiday season is a time where most people travel to connect family with friends, so there is some great material for the airlines to work with. [...]
November 17, 2019 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
For a truly magical Christmas, visiting Santa in Lapland, Finland is an unforgettable experience for all the family. Rovaniemi is the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, and the city’s most famous resident can be visited every day of the year in Santa Claus Village right on the Arctic Circle, an [...]
November 12, 2019 - Elizabeth Thorn
Germany is home to some of the in Europe. But, what else do you know about Christmas traditions in Germany? Sure, markets originated in Germany, but there’s a lot more to this festive winter holiday in Germany than mere markets and mulled wine. [...]
October 27, 2019 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
Christmas traditions vary across the world, from roller skating in Venezuela to pints of Guinness left out for Santa in Ireland. Whether you’re looking to incorporate a new and unique tradition to your own family gathering or simply curious, these are some of our favourite Christmas traditions from continent to [...]
October 27, 2019 - Sarah Clayton-Lea
If you’re lucky enough to be in Brussels during winter, you’ve got to get into the Christmas spirit at the city’s Winter Wonders markets. While the heart of the Christmas markets in Brussels is at the festive Big Wheel at Place Sainte-Catherine, there’s several markets spread across the city. [...]
October 22, 2019 - Molly Harris
Italy is always a good idea, but the favoured destination tends to take on a special air around the holidays. Squares fill with holiday stalls, bakeries smell of rich spices and even the shops become a little more fashionably festive. Take a seat on the square and people watch over [...]
October 14, 2019 - Big 7 Travel Team
German Christmas markets are known for being among the best in the world, so we wanted to pick the absolute best to visit this festive season. [...]
September 16, 2019 - Big 7 Travel Team
Nothing is more likely to get you in the mood for the festive season than European Christmas markets. With exactly 100 days left until Christmas, we wanted to round up the very best of the best. [...]