As clichéd as it may be, a super-traditional celebration has a lot going for it. Whether it’s stuffed turkey, mistletoe snogging or a Midnight Mass that pulls out all the stops, Ramona Depares brings you the real McCoy in terms of festive holidaying.

I blame Agatha Christie’s The Adventures of the Christmas Pudding. Or, to go further back, even Enid Blyton’s The Christmas Book... Truth is, much as I’m not into the crass commerce of a mainstream Christmas, I’ve always had a hankering for a traditional 25th, where the temperature itself doesn’t actually reach the 25˚C, where the extended family visits the family mansion for a long lunch, followed by port, coffee and boardgames and where kissing under the mistletoe isn’t considered corny... you get the drift.

Christmas arrives early in Amsterdam, with the jolly gentleman showing up in late November, sailing into town

I’ve thought about this hard and long and I finally shortlisted my top traditional Christmas destinations in the hope of inspiring those who, like me, want out of this year’s Republic Street blaring music extravaganza.

Needless to say, much research, much ooh-ing and aah-ing and much cursing at the current lack of funds was duly carried out in the interest of the reader.

Few locations yell Christmas quite as loudly as Oxford Street in London.Few locations yell Christmas quite as loudly as Oxford Street in London.

London, England

Though not exactly inspiring good cheer, Christmases reading Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and A Cricket on the Hearth filled me with a keen appreciation for the value of a good, British Christmas.

Nowadays, naturally, the great UK capital scores considerably higher on the Christmas attractions list. There are the lights along Oxford Street, the legendary vibe at Harrods, Trafalgar Square looking pretty nifty and, of course, the markets, especially the traditional one at South Bank, which focuses on handmade gifts.

To get into the spiritual side of things, head to St Paul’s Cathedral’s Midnight Mass, even if just for the Christmas carols. Lighter pursuits can include a spot of ice-skating at Somerset House, a traditional panto and, of course, the Christmas dinner. While the Brits can’t be said to excel at food, there is one exception, and this is the traditional roasted turkey with potatoes and cranberry stuffing and the uber-rich Christmas pudding, served with brandy butter.

You might even decide to be a tad more adventurous and venture out of London itself for a more rural experience. Without needing to travel too far out of London, good locations include Essex (the countryside, not the scary part), Hertfordshire and Surrey.

All are dotted with picture-postcard villages and beautiful countryside that seems to roll on forever. Find yourself a quaint B’n’B and your traditional Christmas is sorted.

Strasbourg is Christmas capital of the world.Strasbourg is Christmas capital of the world.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Before you do a double take and remind me that the dammed city is known for more, uh, wordly pleasures than those related to Christmas, read on. Santa Claus – or Sinterklaas – has close connections to the Netherlands, and surely that is good enough.

Christmas arrives early in Amsterdam, with the jolly gentleman showing up in late November, sailing into town amid a massive tail of boats that make up an impressive parade that ends at the Maritime Museum, which is when Sinterklaas swaps his boat for a white horse. How’s that for a classy start to the season? Oh yes, he does bring sackfuls of gifts for the kids, but the naughty ones, for some weird reason that has a lot to do with the fact Amsterdam used to be under Spanish domain, get deported to Spain.

Throughout December, Amsterdam becomes alive with fairy lights, which create a spectactular effect when reflected on the canal waters. Of course, you may even get luckier with a freezing spell, in which case the canals turn to ice and the whole city joins in gleeful celebration. Given the climate in the Netherlands, this doesn’t happen as rarely as you’d imagine and when it does, Amsterdam pretty much becomes one massive ice-skating rink.

Besides the skating, Christmas markets are also pretty big here and there’s a theme to suit all tastes, from the Pink Market (gay oriented) to the Organic Food Market and the popular Flower Market.

The Christmas market by the cathedral in Cologne is one of the most visited.The Christmas market by the cathedral in Cologne is one of the most visited.

Cologne, Germany

Chances are you know about Cologne because you were taught about the massive devastation that hit it during World War II. Well, funnily enough, this widespread devastation didn’t manage to ruin its historical charm, or its enduring festive spirit come Christmas.

Cologne is big on markets. In fact, you could say that the whole city becomes one teeming market – there are seven official ones scattered around the centre and they are huge.

The most famous of them all is the one surrounding the Kölner Dom Cathedral (which somehow wasn’t brought down during the war). This one is a maze of wooden stalls and you will enjoy browsing, mulled wine in hand to beat the cold, even if you don’t buy anything. But you will, of course.

If there are little ones in your party (heck, even if not), head over to Alter Markt for the puppet shows and Santa’s grotto. Then walk through the centre, by the Rhine, just taking in the vibe, before you reach the floating Christmas market in the old city quarter.

Strasbourg is Christmas capital of the world.Strasbourg is Christmas capital of the world.

Strasbourg, France

More Christmas villages for the shopaholics and for those who can’t pass a Santa Claus figurine without reaching for their wallet.

Strasbourg takes its Christmas shopping seriously and the markets are actually divided into themed villages, which makes for a totally different experience.

Foodies will find their own corner of heaven here, with regional specialties presented in each village hut.

There’s Alsace, with its prunes, apricots and fresh foie gras; Bredle, with its Christmas biscuits and mulled wine... The list includes what is reportedly the oldest market in Strasbourg – the Christkindelsmärik, which was first held in 1570.

Of course, it’s not just about the shopping, there’s also the music – from gospel to jazz and pop.

Lapland brings you your very own Santa Claus sleigh ride.Lapland brings you your very own Santa Claus sleigh ride.

Lapland

Can’t really sign off a traditional Christmas without including Santa’s headquarters now, can we? Stretching north just below the Arctic Circle, a holiday here will give you the real deal when it comes to snow, frozen lakes, forests and... plenty of Rudolph’s brothers for the odd photo opportunity.

The five hours of daylight and bone-numbing cold are, to a certain extent, made up for with an incomparable festive atmosphere and oodles of snow-based fun. Top on the to-do list has to be a visit to Santa and his elves, followed by a husky or reindeer ride. Skiing, tobogganing and the rather more adventurours snowmobiling are also easily available – just make sure you go with a reputable operator and you have adequate insurance coverage.

This holiday will take a bit more planning than the rest, which are all easily accessible via both national and low-cost airlines operating from Malta. However, www.santaslapland.com is a good place to start, with a decent mix of itineraries and accommodation options.

Unsurprisingly, these sort of activities are extremely popular and you would need to plan and book well ahead. In short, it’s not one to plan for this Christmas. Accommodation can be sorted with a hotel room, or a log cabin for a more authentic experience.

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