Rick Steves' European Christmas (video)

Christmas Eve is finally here and all over Europe people are celebrating in their own unique ways. In England, families await the arrival of Father Christmas; in Norway friends join hands in song; in Burgundy, a toast starts the celebration feast; at the Vatican, people pack St. Peter's to attend a glorious midnight mass; and, as Christmas day dawns, a joyful chorus heralds the birth of Jesus. From our family to yours, peace on Earth and good will to all. Merry Christmas! For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

High in Switzerland, the mighty Alps seem to shout the glory of God. Up here, where villages huddle under towering peaks, Christmas fills a wintry wonderland with good cheer. Traditions are strong and celebration comes with families, friends, and fun. It may be cold outside, but, as the sun sets, it's impossible not to linger in this cozy setting. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

From Piazza Navona's Christmas market to the ultimate manger scene in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the city of Rome bursts with Christmas traditions. La Befana and Babbo Natale delight children and travelers alike, and help to make the season memorable. In Tuscany, sacred music and prayer infuse the tranquil landscape, and living nativities recreate the town of Bethlehem on the most holy of nights. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

When it comes to traditional holiday images, Germany's Bavaria is the heartland. Here we'll savor classic holiday themes: glittering trees, old-time carols, and colorful Christmas markets. Across the border in Austria, Salzburg celebrates the holidays with an alpine elegance as Christmas shopping lanes delight browsers, and locals mix worship with glorious music. The festive swirl of heartwarming sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas abound in the land where the season’s most loved carol, Silent Night, was first performed over 200 years ago. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

In the dark of winter, Paris' best loved icon, the Eiffel Tower, brilliantly heralds this happy season, its biggest department stores dress up the streets, and all along the Champs Elysees a festive force of twinkling trees light the grandest boulevard in Europe. From Paris to Burgundy, Christmas is the stuff of dreams, where rich sounds of medieval carols abound, simple rituals are shared by families and friends, and where, when days are short and nights are long, it's customary to leave a light in the window. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

In small-town Norway, Christmas is celebrated with a unique intimacy and a Scandinavian flair for community. Rick travels to Drobak, Norway's self-proclaimed capital of Christmas, for Santa Lucia Day, and enjoys a Norwegian Girls' Choir concert in Oslo. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.

While each European country gives Christmas its own special twist, they all follow the same story of how the son of God was born on earth, as told in the Bible and illustrated over the centuries by great artists. In this segment of Rick Steves' European Christmas, we begin where the Christmas story begins: with the Annunciation of Mary and the birth of Christ. We'll also experience the local Christmas traditions of Bath and London, England, from choirs and caroling, to mince pie, Father Christmas, and more. For more information on Rick Steves' European Christmas — including the European Christmas DVD, Blu-ray, Music CD and Book — visit www.ricksteves.com.