Alternative Christmas traditions revealed in easyJet survey
A candlelight procession in an historic amusement park in Copenhagen, sharing a sauna with your ancestors in Finland and fireball swinging in Scotland have been revealed as the most popular alternative Christmas traditions to try out during December and the festive period.
Krampus Night, when people dress as an Austrian folklore creature and parade through the streets, bellringing in a Swiss village and a medieval market in France also featured highly in list of alternative Christmas experiences across Europe, as voted for by the British public.
The survey of 2,000 British holidaymakers by airline easyJet, has revealed a new alternative list of lesser known, Christmas experiences and traditions that can be found throughout Europe.
Nine-in-ten (90 per cent) Brits want to try out a Christmas tradition that is different to those that they usually do at home, while 80 per cent said that, more than ever, they’d like to travel abroad to try out a new Christmas experience, with 76 per cent looking for more adventurous and experiential Christmases.
Reasons for Brits wanting to try out new Christmas traditions or experiences abroad include making new memories (46 per cent), experiencing different cultures at Christmas (38 per cent) and trying something new with family and loved ones (37 per cent).
More than a third (37 per cent) of Brits said they want to shake up their usual Christmas routine.
The special Tivoli Lucia candlelight procession in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, is the experience Brits would most like to try out at Christmas.
Visiting the 174-year-old amusement park is a popular Christmas tradition for locals, which sees the park illuminated by thousands of fairy lights and tree light shows.
When darkness falls over the Gardens the Lucia candlelight Parade passes through the Gardens on one night a year in December.
A Finnish Christmas Sauna with a ghostly twist ranked in second place. On Christmas Eve it’s traditional for the residents of Finland to have a session in a sauna to connect with departed ancestors. Afterwards, they head outside to celebrate while the spirits of their ancestors take their place in the sauna.
Brits looking for different traditions a little closer to home wanted to try taking part in Fireball Swinging in Stonehaven, Scotland, for their Christmas experience, which came in third place.
The top 20 alternative Christmas traditions Brits want to try out:
- St Lucia Candlelight Procession Parade, Tivoli (Copenhagen, Denmark) - (29 per cent)
- Christmas Sauna to connect with departed ancestors (Finland) - (19 per cent)
- Fireball swinging (Stonehaven, Scotland) - (18 per cent)
- Provins Medieval Market (France) – (18 per cent)
- St Nicholas Day Parade, Küssnacht am Rigi (Switzerland) - (17 per cent)
- Krampus Night (Austria) - (13 per cent)
- Morcote bell-ringing (Switzerland) - (13 per cent)
- The Yule Lads (Iceland) - (12 per cent)
- Bananas in Braga (Portugal) – (12 per cent)
- Christmas Pickle (Germany) - (11 per cent)
- Frau Perchta (Austria and Germany) – (11 per cent)
- St Lucia Day (Sweden) - (11 per cent)
- Broom hiding (Norway) - (10 per cent)
- La Befana (Italy) - (10 per cent)
- Il rogo del Vecchione (Bologna, Italy) - (10 per cent)
- J-Dag (Demark) - (9 per cent)
- Kallikantzaroi (Greece) - (9 per cent)
- Shoe-throwing (Czech Republic) - (8 per cent)
- Caga Tió (Catalonia, Spain) - (7 per cent)
- Mari Lwyd (Wales) - (6 per cent)
The list, packed full of unique celebrations, off-the-beaten track winter experiences and quirky Christmas traditions, was voted on by the British public.
Sophie Dekkers, easyJet’s chief commercial officer, said: “The festive season offers a fantastic opportunity for friends, and family to get together for the holidays to celebrate old traditions or discover new ones.
“We hope this list helps inspire both seasoned travellers as well as first-time visitors to explore more of the places they love or visit a new destination and experience its unique customs first hand.
“This winter we’ve launched over 41 new routes offering amazing choice to our customers, from seeing the dazzling Northern Lights in Tromso, to skiing in the Alps via Innsbruck or lounging in the sun in Luxor.
“With hundreds of destinations, we have something to provide festive cheer for everyone this Christmas, no matter where they fly.”
Pictured: Tivoli Lucia candlelight procession in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen
