Not too cool for yule: The world's 10 most Christmassy places

Many destinations will embrace Christmas in some way, even if it's just a case of hanging up a bit of tinsel and putting a star on a tree.

But some places are a lot more Christmassy than others, whether because they play an important part in the festive story or just go all-out with the celebrations. And these ten are definitely not too cool for yule…

In Riga's Town Hall Square, near the lavishly decorated House of the Blackheads building, a small plaque on the ground commemorates something that happened in 1510.

This was the first time a Christmas tree was erected on the spot, and it is the first documented instance of one going up anywhere in the world. The tradition is maintained more than 500 years later. See Latvia.travel

In Palestine's West Bank, Bethlehem is now a predominantly Muslim town. But as the birthplace of Jesus Christ, it is still a major Christian pilgrimage site.

The main focus is the Church of the Nativity, which was originally built in the fourth century, then rebuilt in the 6th.

This basilica is built over the grotto – not a stable – where Jesus is thought to have been born. The precise spot is marked with a star, and lit with candles. See

The original St Nicholas, who has been turned into Santa Claus over centuries of myth-making, was the Bishop of Myra in the 4th century.

The ruins of Myra are now in Demre, Antalya province, where the St Nicholas Church is now officially a museum and a major pilgrimage site for those in the Russian Orthodox faith.

Whether children will appreciate being taken to see Santa's tomb is a moot point, however. See

You have to applaud the marketing genius behind turning a town on the Arctic Circle into a booming winter tourism destination.

The main town in Finnish Lapland has unashamedly rebranded itself as the home of Santa, and now flights full of families come from all over Europe to see Father Christmas in his village.

The gimmick has been supplemented by a wealth of winter activities, such as husky tours and reindeer-driven sleigh rides. See

Good King Wenceslas was a real person – he was the Duke of Bohemia in the 10th century. He converted the region to Christianity and got murdered for his troubles.

But before that, he got started on the Cathedral of St Vitus, the Gothic centrepiece of the huge Prague Castle complex.

His tomb is inside, although if you want true Christmassy vibes, head to the twinkling lights and markets of the Old Town. See

If you care more about size than heritage, then Dortmund proudly boasts that it has the world's largest Christmas tree. Realistically, it's not one tree, but around 1000 Norway spruces stacked together in the shape of a single tree.

The result is one gargantuan Frankentree, covered in tens of thousands of lights and topped with a four-metre angel, forming the undeniable focal point of the Dortmund Christmas market. See

St Nicholas' bones, however, are in Italy. They were stolen from Myra in the 11th century and taken to Bari, where the Basilica di San Nicola was subsequently built around them.

Again, the Basilica is a key pilgrimage site and every year, a liquid called Manna Water is brought up from the tomb. It's said to have oozed from the bones and have healing properties. More likely, it's a result of humidity. See

Fans of Christmassy relics can get another blast at Cologne Cathedral, which was once the tallest building in the world.

The twin towers still soar above the city, but inside is a shiny gold sarcophagus. This is where the bones of the Magi – aka the Three Wise Men – are housed.

Once you've seen the big gold box, head out to the Christmas Markets. Unusually, there are several of them spread through the city, all with a different theme. See

Not content with putting up a big tree in the middle of town, Gubbio ropes in neighbouring Mount Ingino for an astonishingly tacky display of Christmas chintz.

Using thousands of lights and several kilometres of electric cabling, Mount Ingino has a giant Christmas tree emblazoned on it.

The tree-mountain is such a big deal that, in the past, the Pope has come to switch on the lights. See

Perhaps the most extraordinary displays come in a country that doesn't even celebrate Christmas.

Tokyo is tremendously unfussed about the religious aspect of Christmas, but has gone the whole hog with the twinkling lights and commercialism.

The result is a slightly strange, over the top Japanese take on the season, with massive illuminations, ice rinks and Christmas markets embraced with gusto. See

-