Christmas Eve is coming

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   On the 23rd of December a BANKO correspondent investigated how holidays are celebrated in countries, which are popular among Russian tourists. Since Christmas is a family holiday, it is traditional to celebrate it at home, while wild celebrations are not to be expected. In Poland the coming weekends will see the festival of Christmas crèches. The works of winners will be available for public viewing during the week after the holidays. In France skate rinks are made and it is possible to skate up to the Eiffel tower. In the streets of Catalonian towns there is a chance to see Sardanas, a famous dance, and Castel, a live pyramid. On the night of the 6th and the 7th of January during the holiday of the Adoration of the Magi, there is a theatrical performance of the arrival from the sea of these famous Christmas characters.
   On Christmas most state establishments of European countries close, even restaurants stop serving early. ‘In Italy at 9pm it is hard to find a place to eat out’, says Nelly Ionkina, general director of ‘Ital travel’.
   ‘Unfortunately’, on Saturday Christmas markets, loved by tourists, will close down in most countries. Yet in Catalonia Christmas market of Saint Lucia, which has existed from XVII century, will be open till the 26th of December, the day of Saint Stephan, a non-official local name for Christmas’, said Christina Ionitskaya, representative of the national office of tourism of Catalonia. The beginning of after-Christmas period of discounts which, this season held on the 9th of January, will even be broadcast on TV ‘. In Finland shops will start selling goods with the discount as early as on the 27th of December’, says Arto Asikaynen, director of the tourist representative office of the country.
    Many head of national tourist offices will celebrate Christmas holidays in their home countries. ‘Our director Christian Valgenvic returns to France for this period. He will celebrate Christmas in Paris with his family where he will stay for a couple of days to go to theatre, to see old friends, then he will go the Pyrenees to ski and have holidays’, Maison de France told BANKO. Official tour representatives of Catalonia and Poland already went away. Although the Finnish office is based on the Russian calendar and works on Christmas as usual. ‘It is fortunate the holiday is on weekend. I will celebrate in Moscow but still at home rather than at work’, said happily Atro Asikaynen.