IN PHOTOS: Christmas at 6 airports around the world

MANILA, Philippines – It’s a scene from right out of a lovely Christmas movie like Love Actually – during the holidays, even the world’s airports are chiming in to celebrate.  

Travel search engine Wego gives us a look into how some of the busy airports around the world are celebrating the holidays. 

London Heathrow Airport

Select restaurants are offering free meals for kids, arts and crafts are available, and some passengers even get surprise visits from the likes of the snowman and Peppa Pig. Santa Claus and his elves are even handing out lollipops to passengers. 

Heathrow has created these custom lollipops with savory flavors – not just sweet. Turkey, sage and onion stuffing, Christmas pudding lollipops anyone?

The sweets are called Boarding Bon Bons, and according to the release, Christmas pudding has hints of “brandy butter, raisin and Christmas spices” while the turkey one “tastes surprisingly like a Christmas meal.” 

There’s also a Christmas tree at Terminal 2 which glows with lights that flast when passengers tweet using the hashtag #T2Christmas. 

Hong Kong International Airport

A gigantic 16-meter tall Swarovski Christmas Tree greets passengers going through Terminal 1. It’s two levels tall, and made up over over a million sparkly crystals from Austria. 

There are plenty of photo opportunities – local illustrator Bigsoil’s characters from A Beary White Christmas can be seen in front of a huge Christmas box. If you share a photo on social media using  #HKIAxmas, one can also win daily prizes. 

In a cute twist, there are also going to be surprise flash mobs from local arts students to entertain passengers before they board. Other forms of entertainment include Candy Crush art pieces, magicians from Las Vegas, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and a fun light show through the departure concourse. 

Los Angeles International Airport

According to the release, much of the decorating is left to the airlines – but there’s a lovely feature from LAX: their PUPs, or Pets Unstressing Passengers therapy dogs.

These beautful animals travel the terminal “providing a calm distraction to the sometimes hectic pace of an airport.” Of course, they’ll be decked out in their holiday outfits, too. 

Frankfurt Airport

One might guess that Germany, famous for their beautifully lit villages and age-old Christmas traditions, will also go all out for their airports. Aside from the beautiful decorations, there will be live music from the singing angels, and shopping areas – always a highlight during this season. 

According to the release, “shops, bars and restaurants will distribute treats and interactive, instant-win Christmas lotteries redeemed through the airport’s social media channels.” 

Helsinki Airport

The Helsinki Airport’s got flash mobs, too – Finnair’s choir surprised passengers with one to launch the season in mind-November. And of course, Santa Claus makes appearances at the airport, sharing treats and sweets with happy travelers. 

Vancouver International Airport

Live entertainment can be expected at Vancouver’s airport, including the Vancouver Opera, Jennifer Scott Duo, Steinway Young Artists Program, St Andrews School Choir and Clare Brett’s Mrs Claus Musical Christmas Show, to name a few.

Here’s another stress-busting feature: you can have gifts wrapped for free in a few areas throughout the airport.

Singapore Changi Airport

It’s only natural that Changi, named the World’s Best Airport for the fifth time at this year’s Skytrax World Airport Awards, will think up some very cool holiday activities. 

Changi’s Christmas Wonderland is an interactive, multi-sensory show featuring snow – for 8 minutes! According to the release, there are “roving stiltwalkers, puppets, magic shows, jumping castles, storytelling and exquisite decorations top off meet and greets with Mickey Mouse and his friends.”

There’s a global feel to the decorations. Says the release, “Apart from a German-inspired centrepiece, there are also picturesque displays of snowy Swiss chalets (T3 transit area), traditional Japanese cottages (T2 transit area), Broadway-styled New York City (T1 transit area) as well as Spanish costumes adorned on huge Mickey and Minnie Mouse topiaries (T2 public area) at 5 meters tall.”

Tell us about the airports in your part of the world! Snap a photo and share with us. Tell us how you’ll be celebrating the holidays in the comments below. Cheers! – Rappler.com