For the citizens of Finland, Rovaniemi's location just north of the Arctic Circle makes it Christmas headquarters. Children bake gingerbread cookies with Mrs. Claus, enroll in Elf School and write wish lists with a traditional quill.
For the citizens of Finland, Rovaniemi's location just north of the Arctic Circle makes it Christmas headquarters. Children bake gingerbread cookies with Mrs. Claus, enroll in Elf School and write wish lists with a traditional quill.
Courtesy visitrovaniemi.fi
Christmas in Strasbourg, France, is packed with concerts and a special selection of cultural events.
Christmas in Strasbourg, France, is packed with concerts and a special selection of cultural events.
PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images
Joyeux Noël! You'll enjoy the holiday lights and brisk winter atmosphere in historic Quebec City, Canada.
Joyeux Noël! You'll enjoy the holiday lights and brisk winter atmosphere in historic Quebec City, Canada.
Courtesy la ville de Quebec
Piñatas, posadas and ponche sum up the festivities in the colorful Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende, where Christmas is a solemn and celebratory affair.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico —
Piñatas, posadas and ponche sum up the festivities in the colorful Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende, where Christmas is a solemn and celebratory affair.
alfredo estrella/afp/getty images
The Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, is known for its yearly display of over-the-top holiday decorations.
The Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, is known for its yearly display of over-the-top holiday decorations.
Michael Heiman/Getty Images
Priest and deacons march in a processional around Beta Mariam Church in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Thousands of adherents to the Ethiopian Orthodox faith come here to observe Orthodox Christmas.
Priest and deacons march in a processional around Beta Mariam Church in Lalibela, Ethiopia. Thousands of adherents to the Ethiopian Orthodox faith come here to observe Orthodox Christmas.
J. Countess/Getty Images
Customers buy Christmas decorations from a street stall at the farmer's market in suburban Manila. The Philippines is Asia's bastion of Roman Catholicism and celebrates the world's longest Christmas season.
Customers buy Christmas decorations from a street stall at the farmer's market in suburban Manila. The Philippines is Asia's bastion of Roman Catholicism and celebrates the world's longest Christmas season.
JAY DIRECTO/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
King Gaspar giving away sweets at the Three Kings Day parade in Terrassa, a town not far from Barcelona, Spain.
King Gaspar giving away sweets at the Three Kings Day parade in Terrassa, a town not far from Barcelona, Spain.
Paco Calvino/Moment Editorial/Getty Images
How about Christmas in Queenstown, New Zealand? Take in views of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range in the background.
How about Christmas in Queenstown, New Zealand? Take in views of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables mountain range in the background.
MARTY MELVILLE/AFP/Getty Images
What can be more Christmas than spending part of the holiday at Vatican City? You can see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, pictured here.
What can be more Christmas than spending part of the holiday at Vatican City? You can see St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, pictured here.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images