We’ll explore a different destination for each Book Club, and a lucky Silver Travel Book Club reader can win a free copy of that month’s book.
This month for our Silver Travel Book Club, we’re journeying through the merriest and most fascinating festive traditions with The Atlas of Christmas: The Merriest, Tastiest, Quirkiest Holiday Traditions from Around the World by New York Times Bestseller Alex Palmer.
From the snowy markets of Europe to tropical celebrations in the Caribbean, this book uncovers how different cultures mark the season in their own unique ways. Explore quirky customs, heartwarming stories, and the history behind the beloved traditions we treasure.
Discover why Norwegians hide their brooms on Christmas Eve, how Filipinos create dazzling light displays, and the origins of Iceland’s mysterious Yule Cat. Each chapter is a celebration of creativity, family, and festive cheer.
This delightful, festive compendium explores holiday traditions from around the globe. From Iceland’s Jólabókaflóð (Christmas Book Flood) to Italy’s Festa dei sette pesci (Feast of Fishes) and the dazzling Christmas lanterns of the Philippines, it uncovers the fascinating and often surprising ways people celebrate.
Will it inspire you to embrace a new tradition this Christmas? Or perhaps revisit one that’s been passed down through generations?
How to win a copy of The Atlas of Christmas
Comment below and tell us what’s your favourite Christmas tradition from around the world, or is there one you’d love to experience for yourself?
In the spirit of Christmas, this competition will close early on 22 December to ensure the book reaches you in time to enjoy during the festive season. A winner will be chosen at random on 23 December 2024.
Read more about all our Silver Travel Book Club reads.
37 Responses
Christmas on a cruise ship would be pretty good. Let someone else do all the hard work and visit new destinations at the same time.
I’m happy to follow our traditions and just read about different ones from around the world. Christmas traditions in our family have changed a little as the family has shrunk in size; this year there will be just four for Christmas lunch. In the early 50’s we always went to my grandparents’ house and had roast capon followed by homemade Christmas pudding and custard and then games in the front room (the only time we were allowed in it!). Now we have pre-prepared turkey joint with the usual vegetables and there will be a couple of mini puddings in the cupboard if anyone wants one heated in the microwave and served with cream (I think there’s still one left from last year!). I’ll make a trifle as I’ve always done as my son expects one, but this year it will be a Black Forest trifle, harking back to the 70’s when he was a child. Boxing Day is my favourite day, cold turkey and ham and bubble and squeak followed by a walk.
Christmas on the beach in New Zealand is on my wish list
It might sound rather cliché and boring to some, but my ideal Christmas tradition is the one me and my family have and have had for many years just all being together and having some delicious food and opening some wonderful gifts and we treasure family time even more due to the fact we sadly lost my brother almost twenty years ago now… We enjoy watching Christmas TV and also playing some games but you cannot beat the feeling of Christmas as a kid it was just the best and I cannot wait to have children of my own to celebrate it with in the very best future hopefully!!
In my family presents came from people we knew and Father Christmas gave a stocking. If either child said that they didn’t believe in Father Christmas there would be no stocking.My daughter was twenty and away for Chtistmas .She phoned and said ”I don’t expect Father Christmas will give me a stocking this year”
Christmas as a kid – the anticipation & excitement with family
when I worked on cruise ships, the officers would come down and serve the crew their christmas dinner, then we would all go and sing carols for the passengers.
Sitting at home right now and watching Susan Calman Christmas Cruising…..what fun it looks, and embracing Norwegian food and traditions. Never cruised nor visited Norway. Would love the experience.
Surprise Pie……made with Xmas roast dinner leftovers…..turkey, stuffing, sprouts, parsnips, cranberry sauce, in a creamy sauce, and topped with carrot/potato mash. It’s a fusion of USA(cranberry), British veggies , and BRUSSELS sprouts !
my uncle – who emigrated to Australia in 1960s – kept up the tradition of a turkey meal for Christmas day but as a picnic on the beach. I would love to try this!!
Going away to somewhere warm and sunny, done this nearly every year for over 25 years! Christmas lunch for two on a sunny patio after a walk to have a bottle of Prosecco in a bar by the sea!
Mulled wine with all the family around, before lunch. Helps to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.
How fascinating, thank you for the chance to win a book about other country’s Christmas season traditions, I love learning about them all and seeing how differently people celebrate good things at this time of year, thank you.
Our family tradition is to have cold turkey, mash potato and pickles on Boxing Day – I love it & if Dad was still around, he’d make his sherry-laden trifle.
My favourite tradition is to have turkey sandwiches on Christmas eve, a tradition handed down from my mother-in-law. When I was young the turkey was cooked on Christmas day and wasn’t to be eaten until dinnertime.
Our own Christmas tradition is getting together on Boxing morning and all going out for breakfast at a local pub.
Hiding the Christmas pickle ornament on Christmas Eve after everyone has gone to bed is still one of my most favourite Christmas traditions. Even more fun is watching which child manages to spot it the next morning and claim an ‘extra’ present!
Helping Mum stir the Christmas cake and later putting the little trees and snowmen on the icing.
Years ago we had a wonderful Christmas in Finnish Lapland. Rode a sledge pulled by huskies to meet Father Christmas.
Our traditions at home are simple , focusing on the joy of being together
We would like to try Christmas on the beach in Australia
I’d love to experience the Krampus run in Austria, and also go to Iceland to see what The Yule Lads get up to!
My favorite tradition is going to the coast catching crab and having a feast.
In Portugal it is traditional to light bonfires on Christmas Eve before going to midnight mass. Sounds interesting
My favourite Christmas tradition is smoked salmon and scrambled eggs with a glass of Bucks Fizz at 11am on Christmas morning before the cooking starts and the guests arrive for the 4pm big festive dinner.
The good old English tradition of a long walk on Boxing Day!
Leftovers and pickles and cheese and chocolate.
We used to live at a small Christian Hospital and always enjoyed the goat curry we had Christmas week. All the staff who were not working came with their families and we all ate together. Afterwards there was tribal dancing that most joined in.
River cruise Nuremberg to Budapest,so excited
I think the one thing that is likely to reflect the joy of the Christmas period all over the world, whether with a religious element or not, is the gathering of family members to eat together – very hard to beat as a warming experience.
It’s all about family for me. Getting together at a comfortable hotel Berlin over Christmas would be fabulous. Just think, no cooking and no washing up.
Happy memories of Mum having all my siblings and partners and children over for Christmas, would love to do this with my children but work and distance seems to prevent this, one day!
Going to Dubai
Boxing Day bubble and squeak!
I’d love to experience Christmas in a snowy landscape, staying in a lodge with a roaring fire, Qubeck City looks amazing at Christmas.
going away!!!!!
I like a traditional Christmas – the tree, the turkey and all the trimmings with a sprinkle of snow on the top!! All with friends and family – magic!
I’d love to experience an Australian beach BBQ on Christmas day.