Wouldn't it be great to experience Christmas in different countries?  Imagine walking through Piccadilly Circus in London, or the Champs de Elysees in Paris soaking in all the Christmas lights and decorations.  You and your family experiencing the Christmas traditions of other countries! There may be some of you out there that have been fortunate enough to travel the world and do just that.  For the rest of us, however, there is a great way to sample Christmas around the world without leaving the good ole United States of America.  Epcot, World Showcase at Walt Disney World features Christmas around the world in their World Showcase.  There you will find Mexico, Norway, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom and Canada, just to name a few. You can walk from each "country" to the next and experience a sample of Christmas in each; Germany with its beautiful Christmas trees and Christkindle (Santa Claus). France and their Pere Noel (Santa Claus) under the Eiffel Tower, Norway with their yummy holiday goodies and festive vikings.  It's such an awesome experience and a great way to educate the kids on how different cultures celebrate and keep Christmas.  Each country has it's own storyteller, who tells of how Christmas is celebrated in their country.  The storytellers are funny, knowledgeable and entertaining.  Even Japan has a Christmas storyteller.  Who knew?  It's educational and entertaining.  The kids are learning something even though they don't realize it...pretty cool!

Another 'don't miss' is the Candlelight Processional, which has been a Disney tradition for many, many years. My family and I saw this show a few years back and I have to say it was a very moving and spiritual experience. The Candlelight Processional takes place during the holiday season at the American Gardens Theatre in the World Showcase at Epcot.  It is a beautifully performed presentation featuring a celebrity narrator retelling the story of Christmas, a live orchestra and amazing choir.  You can find out in advance which celebrity is performing which nights by checking schedules at www.disneyworld.com. There is not extra charge for the Candlelight Processional, however, you can purchase dinner tickets, which will give you dinner at one of the World Showcase restaurants and a ticket to a reserved seat for the performance. They do sell out and sometimes quickly. The more popular the celebrity narrator, and larger crowds (like weekends and when the kids are out for the holidays) make it more difficult to get a seat. Plan ahead! The Candlelight Processional is held outside, therefore, it is not climate controlled.  The performance is not canceled due to incliment weather. A good idea is to check the local forecast so there are no surprises.  I'd bring a rain poncho just in case, this is Florida after all. A good thing to keep in mind is, if you are not purchasing tickets for the dinner package, seats are first come first serve.  I would suggest lining up at least 45 minutes to an hour before the performance starts. Again, check www.disneyworld.com for schedules of dates and times.

Whether you get to spend some holiday time at Disney World, at home with family and friends or both. I wish you all a wonderful holiday and a healthy, happy and blessed new year!