Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland (© Smelov/Shutterstock)

Christmas market in Sibiu, Romania (© Calin Stan/Alamy)

English National Ballet performing ‘The Nutcracker’ (© Caroline Holden/Alamy)

Traditional red fishermen’s cabins on the shore of Reinefjorden, Norway (© Pilat666/Getty Images)

Salzburg, Austria (© bluejayphoto/Getty Images)

Lake Misurina, Dolomites, Italy (© Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images)

Northern hawk-owl, Canada (© pchoui/Getty Images)

Christmas market, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Budapest, Hungary (© Calin Stan/Shutterstock)

Wild poinsettia (aka Christmas flower) (© David Hosking/NPL/Minden Pictures)

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Sexten Dolomites, Italy (© Daniel Maran/Getty Images)