Have you ever dreamed of a European Christmas? Sitting around the open fire, sipping hot cocoa and singing those Christmas carols about snow falling? Why not live the dream on a Rentavilla Christmas villa holiday.

A Christmas villa holiday in Europe is not just about December 25.  In some parts of Europe, the unofficial start of the Christmas season is St Martin's Day on 11 November.  Advent, and all its traditions and celebrations, usually begins on the first Sunday after November 26.

In Italy, the Christmas celebrations really get started around 8 December, which is the Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception.  Many towns and cities will have displays of Christmas lights and most will have a presepe, or Christmas nativity scene, which will be in the main square or outside the main church or cathedral.  Naples is the place to see the most amazing variety of presepi and perhaps purchase some traditional handmade figurines to take home as souvenirs.  There are many towns that offer a presepi viventi, or living nativity, where actors perform the roles of the holy family.  It is also common for towns to hold their own Christmas markets, such as the Noel Noel family Christmas fair in Florence, running from late November until early December.  On Christmas Eve, warm yourself by the traditional bonfire that is held in the main square of many towns and then join the locals in the celebration of midnight mass.  Join in the Christmas Eve Vigil at St Peter's Basilica in Rome.  In Abbadia di San Salvatore, you can watch a procession of Christmas torches on Christmas Eve, while in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the torches are carried by skiers and it is amazing to see hundreds of them descend the mountain.  Larger cities, such as Milan, Florence and Rimini, put on a series of concerts, Operas and other live performances over the Christmas and New Year period.

In France, it is traditional to gather after the midnight mass and have a huge feast, or reveillon, composed of festive foods, particular to each region.  The larger towns and cities will often have a Christmas market running from late November until late December.  In some places this takes the form of a Christmas village, set up with markets, food stalls and activities, particularly for children.  There are also many Christmas Festivals, such as the Saint Nicolas Festival held in Nancy in early December.  Also popular are amazing displays of Christmas lights, such as the Festival of Lights held in Lyon, Amiens and Calais, and the breathtaking display along the Champs-Elysées in Paris.  This is the time of year to buy olive oil and truffles in Aix-en-Provence, pick out your turkey at the Turkey Festival in Liques or judge for yourself at the Christmas Shop Window Contest in the Place D'Armes in Calais.  If you want to see Santa hard at work, you can visit him at the House of Father Christmas in Sept-Saulx.

The Feast of Saint Nikolaos on 6 December kicks off the Christmas celebrations in Greece, which continues, like most of Europe, until the Epiphany celebrations on 6 January.  A Christmas villa holiday in Spain is a chance to taste some of the festive specialties and there are plenty of opportunities at the local Christmas fairs, such as the Fira di Santa Lucia in Barcelona.

Christmas in Europe offers some wonderful opportunities for shopping.  Cities such as, Lille, Colmar, Strasbourg and Reims in France and Rome, Florence and Trento in Italy, hold world famous Christmas markets.  These markets, often in beautiful settings, offer all sorts of traditional food, handmade crafts and Christmas decorations and a chance to experience how Christmas is celebrated in Europe.  Sip some warming mulled wine as you stroll between the stalls and listen to the traditional music and Christmas carols.

Traveling in winter means no crowds in galleries and museums.  Many activities are not as expensive as they are in summer time when there are tourists everywhere.  It is the time to treat yourself to a Gondola ride in Venice or a dinner cruise down the River Seine in Paris.

New Years Eve can be an opportunity to take part in further festivities, such as the free concerts in Syntagma Square and Kotzia Square in Athens or breathtaking fireworks displays like those in Naples, Rome and Paris.

While you are staying in your Christmas villa, you can take advantage of all the winter sports opportunities in you area.  There may be ice-skating at special outdoor rinks such as those at the Hôtel de Ville and Montparnasse in Paris and the Place Rapp in Colmar.  A Christmas villa holiday lets you prepare your own Christmas feast, using the finest local produce, or have a complete holiday and sample the regional festive cuisine in the local cafes and restaurants.

Take advantage of those long Christmas holidays and book a Rentavilla Christmas villa vacation.  Merry Christmas!