Christmas Trip in Sri Lanka - A Surprisingly Festive Holiday Getaway
Image© Shangri La Colombo
Picture tall bell towers that herald the start of Advent with wonderful chimes, twinkling trees, guests sipping mulled wine, and sampling mince pies, and you probably have visions of festivities in Europe or somewhere in the world that is traditionally lauded as a great place to spend your Christmas holidays.
Sri Lanka celebrates the season with all this and more, where faith and festivities feature in unexpectedly creative ways, and is a surprisingly festive getaway for a trip at Christmas.
Image© Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo
While the island is a great all year holiday destination, it does shine a little brighter come December. Those of us who have lived in Sri Lanka all our lives even feel a nip in the air that’s a relief from our usual warm days. Read on to see why Ayu in the Wild thinks that Sri Lanka deserves its share of hype as a Christmas holiday getaway perfect for families or couples. If you are already exploring Sri Lanka, then this is your guide of Christmas activities.
A Visit to the Historic Churches
Baubles and tinsel aside, Christmas is celebrated reverently by hundreds of Christian worshippers in Sri Lanka who faithfully gather in churches preparing for the real meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus. The four Sundays of Advent are marked by prayer and worship. Sri Lanka is home to some beautiful churches across the island that gather its flock to mark the spirit of Christmas with reflection and charity. Simpler in architecture than in Europe but replete with a good share of intricate domes, steeples lit up at night, picturesque stained-glass windows depicting stories of Christ and old wooden pews carved by artisans.
For those exploring Sri Lanka’s essential highlights on a Christmas Trip we recommend a visit to some of its historic churches in coastal towns like Negombo close to the Airport and in Matara along the Southern coast to see Advent candles lit and thronging crowds of worshipers singing carols around nativity scenes.
With Sri Lanka becoming a safe travel destination there is now heightened interest in exploring the buzzing city and travel accolades are being heaped on the island yet again- thank you to Conde Nast readers for choosing Sri Lanka as one of the world’s best countries to visit in 2019. Our Colombo City History Walks continue to include a meander through the beautiful shrine of St. Anthony in Colombo which was restored to greater glory after the cowardly Easter Sunday attacks. The jungle shrine of Madhu along the route to Mannar is a must visit during Christmas on any trip that includes Jaffna and the northern regions.
Booking a Christmas Trip to Sri Lanka
Walks along a sunny beach seem to pair well with shop fronts decked in colour coordinated moods, some all red and gold and shining; others more elegant twinkling-white-over-strands-of-green affairs. Don’t wait for last minute offers, or you will come up short with your first choice of the best luxury hotels in Sri Lanka. Who waits till the last minute for a long-haul getaway, anyway, especially over the festive season? If you are like us, you will be feeling the first pangs of that warm, glowing feeling by September, which would be the best time to book your Christmas Trip in Sri Lanka.
Image© ODEL Department Store
Colombo Does ‘The-Most-Wonderful-Time-Of-The-Year’ In Creative Style
Boutique spaces and heritage hotels are adorned with festive foliage and celebratory menus are dished under an enchanting atmosphere at hotels across the island, but Colombo does it best. Christmas events in Colombo start on 1st December. Menu’s in sumptuous style are curated by Chefs across vibey restaurants and fine dining venues in the luxury hotels. Christmas activities and events are launched by departments stores immediately following the Black Friday and Cyber Monday weekend, and Christmas bake sales waft an aroma of festive cheer everywhere. The Sugar Shack annual bake sale is our personal favourite.
Image© Shangri La Colombo
The green Capital with its vast canopy of old trees become a canvas of white fairy lights. Few do festive glamour better than the luxury hotels in Colombo who keep the traditions of Christmas alive with Christmas Tree lighting and cake mixing ceremonies. Their grand lobbies smell of delicious Stollen; of spices; while chocolates frosted with elves, Yule Logs, marzipan and other treats adorn the shelves at Christmas markets and Santa’s little villages. The Christmas Market at Hilton Colombo continues till 28th December and at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo until the 23rd December.
We take our (elf) hats off to Mövenpick Hotel Colombo who innovated an up-cycled Christmas tree this year, assembled with large doses of goodwill by its in-house staff using over 5,000 plastic bottles. Cheers to Movenpick (glasses of warm, spiced mulled wine raised) for their pledge to eliminate single use plastic by end of 2020; a responsible travel initiative close to our hearts.
Image© Brew 1867 by Dilmah
Pop up events happen across Colombo City in December where local artists, designers and cafés collaborate to ring in cheer and sales. Christmas workshops for kids, inclusive charity events and festive edits at designer fashion stores create a sparkle in the City. The Galle Face Hotel Colombo brought a cheer to cancer stricken children at their annual Christmas Charity event this year.
Ayu in the Wild recommends at least a few days spent strolling around Sri Lanka’s bedecked cosmopolitan commercial hub, Colombo as part of a 10 to 12 day holiday with family and friends. Christmas eve dinners and Christmas Day lunches at all five-star city hotels and most vaunted festive dining boltholes are booked up weeks ahead. It’s a City where all feels good during a tropical Christmas.
Carolling and Glorious Harmonies
Carolling by candlelight and traditional festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols raise the spirit of Christmas with stirring singing in schools, hotels and cathedrals.
Image© Shehal Joseph / Flickr
None do glorious harmonies better than Sri Lanka’s globally acclaimed all-female choral ensemble Soul Sounds, who raise the roof at their annual seasonal concert featuring their own arrangements of traditional Christmas Carols, as well as truly uplifting devotional gospel, soul and jazz. Moods of Christmas, held this year on the 21st of December, takes centre stage for us in our calendar of Christmas concerts in Colombo.
If you’ve missed your chance for a Christmas trip in Sri Lanka in 2019, stay connected with Ayu in the Wild on our social channels as more Christmas inspiration and exciting trip ideas for a festive holiday in 2020, are on the cards.
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