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Silver Travel Book Club

December 2024 – The Atlas of Christmas

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.

  1. The Book Club is open to residents of the UK, aged 18 years or over, except employees of Silver Travel Advisor and their close relatives, partners or friends and anyone otherwise connected with the organisation of the prize draw.
  2. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter.
  3. By entering, an entrant is indicating his/her/their agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions.
  4. This competition is not in any affiliation with any other company.
  5. The prize is as stated, and no cash or other alternatives will be offered. The prize is non-transferable and is subject to availability.
  6. If a winner does not claim their prize within one week, the prize will be forfeited, and another winner will be selected.
  7. By entering each entrant accepts that the winner’s name and city of residence may be used for promotional purposes by Silver Travel Advisor.
  8. No responsibility is accepted for entries, notices, acceptances, tickets, goods or other documentation lost or delayed in the post.
  9. Winners will be solely responsible for any tax liability incurred as a result of this offer. The organisers’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered.
  10. Entries will be accepted until the closing date as stated.

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28 Responses

  1. 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!!

    Reply

  2. 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!

    Reply

  4. 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.

    Reply

  5. 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.

    Reply

  6. 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.

    Reply

  7. Our own Christmas tradition is getting together on Boxing morning and all going out for breakfast at a local pub.

    Reply

  8. 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!

    Reply

  10. 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

    Reply

  12. I’d love to experience the Krampus run in Austria, and also go to Iceland to see what The Yule Lads get up to!

    Reply

  14. In Portugal it is traditional to light bonfires on Christmas Eve before going to midnight mass. Sounds interesting

    Reply

  15. 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.

    Reply

  18. 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.

    Reply

  20. 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.

    Reply

  21. 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.

    Reply

  22. 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!

    Reply

  25. I’d love to experience Christmas in a snowy landscape, staying in a lodge with a roaring fire, Qubeck City looks amazing at Christmas.

    Reply

  27. 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!

    Reply

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