Christmas is the most popular festival that is celebrated worldwide. Taking a short leave from work, arranging small parties or visiting some beautiful places are highly essential for celebrating the day. Different countries come out with various themes and organize grand parties. Whether you are too busy with your work or too lazy to enjoy an event this is the day when you should not miss the chance of enjoying with your friends.
If you are wanting to spend your Christmas and New Year with greatest parties and markets, Brussels Belgium should be your first choice. Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, is the capital of Belgium and de facto the capital of the European Union.
Christmas Parties, Christmas Market
In Belgium, Christmas will be celebrated twice: once on St. Nicholas’ Day, the 6 December; and again on Christmas day, the 25 December. On St. Nicholas’ day, Belgian children will receive toys, chocolates and candy from Pere Noel – if they’ve been good! If not, their parents will warn them they may receive a bunch of wooden sticks.
The Belgian capital’s classy Grand Place and the Place St Catherine come alive with an array of stalls, and it’s an excellent introduction to the Christmas market short-break concept. Helpfully, there are great chips, waffles and beer too.
The Brussels Christmas Market will delight locals and visitors alike again. The festivities and displays create the magic whilst the numerous live animations and illuminations bring an unique atmosphere. Over a period of five weeks, shops will be remaining open all weekend, so no excuses for not buying that special Christmas present!
Belgians enjoy getting in the Christmas spirit, so there’s lots of shopping, parties and family gatherings. In Waterloo, where we live, the town hall is aglow with beautiful Christmas lights; the main street – Chaussee de Waterloo – is lined with Christmas lights; and if you drive through neighborhoods, you’ll find the occasional house lit in colored lights or a Christmas tree shining through a window.
Exhibitors from all over Europe will set up their wooden chalets around the Grand-Place and in Place St Catherine – selling all manner of gastronomic specialties, handicrafts and other unusual stocking-fillers.
Get to Brussels
Most of visitor get to Brussels by plane. Brussels’ main airport is Brussels Airport (locally still commonly referred to as Brussels National or Zaventem) (IATA code: BRU). Several major carriers operate out of the airport, including the local Brussels Airlines. Remember to book your ticket in advance to avoid any peak-time problems.
Hotels for Christmas
Brussels has full ranges of hotels to accommodate all visitor to Belgium on Christmas holidays. Many great hotels are Hotel Manos Stephanie, Sofitel Brussels Le Louise, Hotel Metropole Brussels, Radisson Blu Royal, Novotel Brussels Off Grand Place Hotel, Pullman Brussels Midi Hotel, etc. If you have decided to spend your next coming holidays in Europe capital, early hotel booking is highly recommended.