The Holidays – Bermuda Style!
Holiday Traditions
Bermuda offers colorful architecture, international influences, seasonal events, boutique shopping and pink-sand beaches, which will make for a holiday season like you’ve never experienced before! Oh, and don’t forget the sunshine, mild weather and island breezes. The island really gets festive over the holidays.
Blended cultures mean residents practice a range of religions and may observe one or many seasonal holidays including Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Christmas. You’ll see festive decorations, glittering lights, window displays and soaring Christmas trees in hotel lobbies and public squares.
By now, the pastel-hued buildings are decked out with sparkling lights and lush wreaths and garlands, and the beautifully decorated Christmas Tree at Royal Naval Dockyard welcomes anyone and everyone. Discover uniquely Bermudian holiday gifts at locally-owned shops or the Huckleberry Holiday Market, and delight in chocolate truffles as you leisurely browse locally made goods.
Dockyard's festivities continue each Sunday throughout December, when Santa Claus takes up residence at the Frog & Onion Pub. On Christmas Day, make a trip to Elbow Beach to experience the glorious sunrise.
And the Food!
Warm, aromatic spices are a year-round fixture in Bermudian cuisine, but the holidays kick it up a notch. The holidays happen to occur at the height of spiny lobster season, which means you’ll savor hearty seasonal dishes. Appease your sweet tooth with a pint of Rum Eggnog Ice Cream from Alex & Pete’s Bermuda Artisan Ice Cream. You will not be disappointed!
Home-cooked holiday meals have their own beloved Bermudian twist. While it wouldn’t be Christmas dinner without the turkey and a rum-glazed ham, Bermudian holiday sides are just as essential. Hoppin’ John, paw-paw (papaya) casserole, and cassava pie (a sweet cake made with shredded cassava root layered with chicken or pork) are a key part of any Christmas dinner. Moist, buttery Bermuda rum cake paired with a mug of warm mulled wine is an excellent chaser.
Bone Fide Luxury!
These 5-star hotels and resorts are only a short flight away!
Source: cambridgebeaches.com
Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa
Steeped in tradition and Bermuda history, Cambridge Beaches Resort has been a treasured destination for oceanfront escapes since 1923. It offers authentic cottage accommodations, dedicated service, and a wealth of amenities – there’s truly no better way to experience the luxuries of Bermuda. From a stroll through their sea gardens and poolside bar to the oceanfront restaurant, dockside tavern and tropical bar, it’s a smorgasbord of sensory delights.
Source: thehamiltonprincess.com
Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, A Fairmont Managed Hotel
For over a century, the iconic “Pink Palace” has embraced Bermuda’s elite travelers. Experience Bermuda’s only luxury urban resort featuring beautifully appointed guest rooms, a stunning infinity pool with uninterrupted views of Hamilton Harbour, art walks featuring original works by Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst, Kaws, and more, and 1609 Bar and Restaurant — Bermuda’s only open-air dining experience situated on a new 59-berth marina.
Source: rosedonhotel.com
Rosedon Hotel
Built in 1906, Rosedon Hotel is a charming, intimate, boutique hotel, centrally located within walking distance of the capital, Hamilton. Lush surroundings include tropical gardens with enormous birds of paradise, blue passion and pink hibiscus flowers, with breezy patios shaded by palm fronds that shield the property from the street. A heated swimming pool and fountains offer a quiet place to relax. It avows the “real feel of Bermuda.”
Source: rosewoodhotels.com
Rosewood Bermuda
Boasting the longest private stretch of Bermuda’s famed pink sand beaches, Rosewood Bermuda is a 200-acre waterfront resort with just 88 rooms. From indulgent treatments at the 12,000-square-foot Sense Spa to matches on the four tennis courts or private golf course to samplings in the 3,000-bottle wine room or their famous Dark and Stormy cocktails on your private terrace, it’s barefoot luxury at its finest.
Joyful Holiday Events
Bermuda does the holidays like no other place. There are fun, reimagined festivities throughout the season. Carol with dolphins, attend a Christmas Eve candlelight service at the oldest Anglican Church in the Western Hemisphere and do Christmas on the beach.
On Boxing Day, this British holiday gets a Bermudian twist when Gombey troupes in bright, multicolored costumes dance through the streets to the rhythm of snare drums, beer bottle fifes and tin whistles.
Ring in the New Year at King's Square in the Town of St. George. Revel in exciting live entertainment, local food and the only-in-Bermuda onion drop, the island's charming version of New York’s Times Square ball drop.
Once you’ve experienced the holidays in Bermuda, you’ll want to return year after year!