Why: For a tots treat, try Iceland, where local folklore has not one but 13 Santas bearing goodie bags at Christmas parties.

The 13 Santas (or Jólasveinar, meaning Yule Lads), each with Brothers Grimm-like characteristics such as "the spoon licker" and "the door slammer," come into town one day at a time starting December 12 until Christmas Eve.

Not far from Reykjavik, the Christmas Village at Hafnarfjördur is known in Icelandic lore as the home of elves. The Village is open every weekend from November 24 until Christmas day. Hafnarfjördur also offers walking tours to supposed elf homesites and boasts a large variety of shops.

There are bonfires and fireworks all over Iceland on both New Year’s Eve and the Twelfth Night, which falls on January 6, 2012.

When: Late November to January 6, 2012