Travel-Themed Christmas
In this festive post, Bethany explores how to incorporate a love of travel into Christmas decorating.
I love two things…travel and Christmas! A few years ago I decided to combine my two passions. Now I put up a travel-themed Christmas tree each year. There are also other festive items that I have picked up on my travels that are part of the Christmas charm in my home.
Travel-Themed Christmas Tree
I traveled a bit here and there in the early part of my life. I began really traveling in earnest back in 2016 when I went to the U.K. for a friend’s wedding. Since then I have done one “big” international trip per year. I also try to do some smaller side trips here within the United States. On that trip to the U.K. in 2016 I purchased a couple of Christmas tree ornaments. From then on, I made it a point to purchase a Christmas tree ornament every place I visited.
It wasn’t until a few years later, in 2019, when I decided to make travel my official theme for my tree each year. In order to fill an entire travel-themed Christmas tree I did have to supplement what I had started to collect on my travels. Luckily, I found a fantastic Christmas store here in the Tampa Bay area that is open year-round, and they have a large section of international themed ornaments. I have visited 28 countries so far but only started getting ornaments recently. So I was able to add lots of new ornaments to my collection to represent the places I had visited before I started buying local items on the trips.
I also found several general travel-themed Christmas ornaments such as planes, trains, ships, globes, cameras, suitcases, and so forth. These make a wonderful addition to the ornaments representing the cities, countries, and continents that I have visited so far.
Now I make a point to get an ornament in each new country I visit. Sometimes I get ornaments in each city that I visit, but that does not always happen. I at least ensure that I have one to represent each country. It can be a bit challenging to find actual Christmas tree ornaments, especially in smaller locations or during the summer months. I have found that keychains, bookmarks, or other such small trinkets do just as well and act as wonderful ornaments on the tree.
European Christmas Market Mugs
My big trip in 2021 was a river cruise to visit several European Christmas markets in Switzerland, France, and Germany. I was in heaven during this entire cruise as my two passions collided into one fantastic trip! The markets were wonderful.
I quickly learned that each market has its own version of a small mug that is used to serve hot beverages in. When purchasing a hot beverage, a small deposit (usually around one Euro) is charged. After you have finished the drink you can either return the mug and get your deposit back, or keep the mug as an inexpensive and beautiful souvenir. Needless to say, I made it my mission to collect a mug at each market I visited. These mugs are now a wonderful addition to my travel-themed Christmas décor.
Want more information about my European Christmas markets river cruse? Click the link below to read the posts:
Other Travel-Themed Christmas Decorations
On my first river cruise in 2017 I visited the Black Forest in Germany. One of the stops on the excursion was to a cuckoo clock maker. This lovely shop also sold many other things, including several types of Christmas decorations. I purchased a few beautiful items here to add to my travel-themed Christmas.
Conclusion
There are several things I love about combining these two passions of mine. I love having a specific thing to search for and purchase in each new city or country I visit…finding the perfect new ornament to add to my tree is a fun hunt! But I also love the process of decorating the tree every year. As I unwrap and hang each ornament on the tree, I fondly remember my time in the place represented by the ornament. Once the tree is up and fully decorated, it is also fun to sit and look at the ornaments as well. It is a wonderful way to relive all of my past travels.
