Eye On Travel: FFS - Festive Festival Survivors in December

Office Party Time: Mistletoe and Wine

Finding a Festival in December is not difficult as most of the month is one big festive event. From office parties with creative photocopying to New Year’s Eve where you pay to go to a crowded pub and not get served.

Yet amidst the tinsel, mince pies and dodgy jumpers, there are still other festivals slipping under the radar. Let’s give them a moment in the limelight.

Mayrhofen: Funnier than it looks

Austria is not usually a country associated with great comedy - at least intentionally. But the big hitting ski resort of Mayrhofen -home to Hari Kari Europe’s steepest piste-amuses itself between 11-17 December16 with the Altitude Comedy Festival.

Fortunately familiar names such as Jimmy Carr, Marcus Brigstock and Eddy Izzard are amongst the many performers appearing in venues across the lively town after a day’s skiing.

GET THERE: Mayrhofen is reached from Innsbruck or Munich. Packages including the festival are available in advance. The nearby Hintertux glacier provides guaranteed snow.

Better the Devil you know?

Guatemala on 7th December sees La Quema del Diablo - lighthearted sounding Burning of the Devil. This involves effigies on large bonfires, fire crackers and fireworks with the aim of chasing evil spirits away pre-Christmas.

Expect a relaxed approach to Health and Safety. Head to cultural and colonial Antigua to enjoy the festivities rather than edgy Guatemala City which may get congested with all the departing spirits..

GET THERE: Fly to Guatemala City via Miami or Madrid and on to Antigua by road. Combines well with the beaches in neighbouring Belize or keep going to Mexico’s Yucatan.

Float Carriers: Big in Japan

For a Japanese twist, the Chichibu Night Festival or Yomatsuri takes place on 2-3 December in Chichibu outside Tokyo. Huge illuminated floats are carried through town by rather large gentlemen accompanied by music and fireworks. Helped along by plenty of Saké of course.

An impressive sight that proves there was light before the invention of neon. Just remember the float carriers are probably ex-Sumo wrestlers so it’s really not worth asking how they became that big eating only sushi..

GET THERE: Tokyo is served direct from the UK or via hubs in Asia or Middle East. Buy a train pass before arriving to explore the country including ancient Kyoto and space age Osaka.

Funky Nassau: The Bahama Splits

Finally, how about a nice quiet festive period in the Caribbean. Except that if you are in the Bahamas, it’s the Junkanoo Festival starting on Boxing Day sometime after midnight. This is an enormous mardi gras style parade with elaborate costumes and life affirming music from melodic horns and goombay drums.

If you enjoy the first one, then it happens all over again on New Years Day - if that doesn’t sort out a hangover, nothing will.

GET THERE: Fly direct to capital and party central Nassau from Heathrow or take a more leisurely trip via a US hub. Bring your party head and expect to make a lot of new friends.

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