Happy Holidays 2024!

1. Start now if you want to make a special Christmas cake for next year by soaking fruits in rum all of 2025. This is a traditional holiday cake from the Caribbean. 

2. We can’t all get to Europe in December. That’s okay, the U.S. has Christmas markets, too!

3. If you’re looking for an untraditional winter getaway, find a dazzling wonderland at one of our nations best National Parks.

4. Is the story of Santa Claus a product of psychedelic hallucinogens? It’s possible, as the story seems to pull from a lot of others, but also was maybe born of a reindeer herder. 

5. It’s difficult to know where the first public Christmas tree debuted, but this city claims it with a large tree and a domed historic marker of the season.

6. I love traveling during the winter for warm weather, but there are actually some really cool festivals during the winter to travel for, like Pennsylvania’s Fire and Ice Festival.

7. Why do the people of Saratoga Springs, NY smash a small peppermint pig after their holiday dinner?

8. The holidays aren’t always a happy time and things don’t have happy endings and every Christmas isn’t “the best Christmas ever”. Maybe this is why we love Christmas movies so much.

9. Santa doesn’t always ride in a sleigh. He arrives by boat in these 9 seaside holiday destinations.

10. Have you heard of Jólakötturinn, the Yule Cat who prowls Iceland in search of children to eat who aren’t wearing any of their new Christmas clothes?

11. In France, Santa has a sidekick. An unlikely one. A butcher and cannibal who carries a whip. Just, who is this Père Fouettard?

12. Looking to up your holiday cheer? Then you maybe want to plan a trip to one of these 12 small towns across America.

8 Nights of Hanukkah

1. People don’t just travel for Christmas. People can travel for Hanukkah and here are 8 surprising places to go for it.

2. You have your own Hanukkah traditions, but here are 9 from around the world. 

3. Bring your own travel menorah when you travel and 4 other things to remember when you’re away from home for the holiday.

4. Even in times of war, Jewish people found a way to celebrate Hanukkah. Here are some stories of finding the light, even during the darkest of times.

5. The dreidel is a fun game that combines gambling and chocolate, but where did it come from and why are we teaching kids to ante up?

6. If you aren’t Jewish and don’t know much about Hanukkah here are 19 cool facts, some of which you probably didn’t know.

7. Looking to make your holiday more trendy and interesting? Here are some amazing decor for your home or to give as gifts to your favorite Jewish friends and family.

8. Menorahs come in all shapes and sizes. Check out these 14 public menorahs from around the world.

If you’ve ever traveled over the holidays, you know that Christmas gets most of the love, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only holiday. There are actually 11 holidays that are celebrated in the month of December, or 10 if you don’t count New Year’s Eve. We always love a Disney Christmas, but places like Paris and London have fantastic winter displays.

What are your favorite holiday destinations or traditions?