Traveling During Christmas? Pack your Christmas Spirit.
Having to adjust his flight plans more frequently in the past ten years, Santa Claus was probably the first to notice a slight change in Christmas Tradition in the New Millennium. While Christmas is still very much about Family and Giving, more families are planning this magical holiday to coincide with their vacations in destinations far from home.
The reasons are varied. Many appreciate the savings on precious time together rather than compromising it with the time, effort and often frustration of traveling long distances to meet up for a few hours, stress in rushing, cleaning, or cooking or even facing difficulties of which side of the family to visit. For others, a holiday destination is ideal for dodging the “holiday blues” caused by stress, fatigue, troubled relationships, financial constraints or lonely images portrayed by the media. Having the entire family pampered on a Christmas cruise or resort can certainly seem to offer more in holiday spirit!
Oddly, surveys show that of the top ten Christmas destinations, seven are in warm, sunny climates and three are in countries who don’t observe Christmas. So how can one kindle the Christmas Spirit in destinations where snow and crackling fireplaces are anything but the norm? How can one possibly enjoy the Christmas Spirit while digging your bare toes in warm sand and sipping a mojito rather than eggnog?
As Australians can attest, perhaps the environs are not as important as is the spirit you bring with you. December falls in the middle of their summer season!
Wherever in the world you may be this Christmas you can always carry the Spirit of Christmas which is surprisingly contagious to all those around you. The tokens of Christmas Spirit: colorful lights, music, ornaments, good cheer with friends-and giving–are universal. One might say the Human Spirit is one in the same and nothing will spark it in others more than your own act of giving and sharing. When you are away from home, make home of the place you are visiting.
If vacationing in remote or secluded areas of the world, like a tropical island, pack ornaments and tinsel and decorate your own “Christmas Tree” on the beach using local fauna. If in urban areas, pack a strand of colorful twinkling lights and decorate the balcony of your hotel. Play Christmas music recorded on the I-Pod from home and invite new friends you have met along the way or especially attentive resort or hotel staff to join you for small, tasty morsels of food and drink. Offer small gifts of food delicacies or even the ornaments from your “Christmas tree”. In most cultures, group photos speak volumes of good will! You are sure to inspire awe and wonder in locals who are new to your strange customs or create lasting memories with new friends who may be far from their home ports as well.
Article provided to the La Quinta Chamber of Commerce – GEM Publication December 2008 page 22.
http://www.lqchamber.com/pdf/gem-dec08.pdf