1. Reykjavik, Iceland

Why: For a real treat for the tots, take them to 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.

Then there's the Christmas Village at Hafnarfjördur, a town not far from Reykjavik that is known in Icelandic lore as the home of elves. The Christmas Village is open on every weekend from November 24 until Christmas day. Hafnarfjördur also offers walking tours to supposed elf homesites.

Back in Reykjavik, people start celebrating Christmas from late November by pigging out at traditional Christmas buffet dinners around town.

On Christmas Eve, bells ring throughout the capital, marking the formal beginning of Christmas.

There are bonfires and fireworks all over Iceland on both New Year’s Eve and the Twelfth Night, which falls on January 6, 2011.

When: Late November to January 6, 2011

Read more: Top 10 places to spend your 2010 Christmas | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/life/top-10-places-spend-your-christmas-810201#ixzz16hvktWLh