At these destinations, you can time-travel back to Christmas and New Year

The music is fading. The “‘Tis the season of jolly” zeal is ebbing too. Santas—secret or otherwise—have (mostly) wrapped up their duties, and the New Year is quietly settling in. As always, we do what we do best: wait eagerly, celebrate wholeheartedly, and then wait all over again for the festivities to return.

And just like that, with slightly longer faces, we head back to work—secretly wishing for a time machine that could take us back to holidays, laughter, and days unruled by alarms.

But what if the festive season isn’t really over yet?

Across the world, some places don’t celebrate Christmas on December 25 or ring in the New Year on January 1. So why not make your first travel plan of the year and slip back into the festive mood—just a little longer—before life pulls you fully back into the hustle?

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A remote island where festivities arrive late

Foula is a tiny, remote island off the coast of Scotland in the UK, home to fewer than 40 residents. Surrounded by dramatic cliffs, rolling green landscapes and endless sea views, life here moves at a noticeably gentler pace.

As the BBC once reported, islanders often juggle multiple roles to keep life running smoothly. One resident, for instance, crews the ferry, works at the water treatment plant, leads tours and delivers mail—all as needed. Time, on Foula, simply beats to a different rhythm.

That difference extends to celebrations too.

Here, Christmas is celebrated on January 6, while the New Year arrives on January 13. The gap between the two remains the same—it’s the calendar that’s different.

Foula never fully adopted the Gregorian calendar, choosing instead to preserve select Julian traditions. The Julian calendar, introduced by Roman ruler Julius Caesar, was used across much of the Western world for centuries before Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar for more accurate timekeeping.

While Foula doesn’t follow the Julian calendar year-round, it continues to honour it for certain rituals and celebrations. The result? Many families—especially those who’ve lived both on the mainland and the island—get to enjoy two Christmases and two New Years.

Speaking to Business Insider, a resident noted that this period often brings families together from afar. The celebrations may be quieter and more intimate, but they are filled with warmth, laughter and a strong sense of togetherness.

And if you’re wondering what there is to explore on this windswept archipelago—plenty. Foula offers rugged hikes, wild beaches, soaring cliffs and views that stay with you long after you’ve left. It’s also one of the few places where traces of old Nordic languages still survive. Birdwatching isn’t just a pastime here—it’s woven into everyday island life.

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The party isn’t over everywhere

Foula isn’t alone in celebrating late. Countries and regions such as Russia, Siberia and Ethiopia also observe Christmas on January 7.

The reason is the same: the Julian calendar.

In many of these places, Orthodox churches continue to mark religious festivals according to the older calendar, even though daily life runs on the Gregorian system. While New Year’s Day is usually celebrated along with the rest of the world, some communities still quietly acknowledge it the old-calendar way.

As decorations come down and routines resume elsewhere, these destinations are just getting started. Foula—and places like it—offer more than delayed festivities. They offer a different relationship with time itself.

Because for them, it’s not late. They’re simply on their own clock.

So if the post-holiday blues are already creeping in, don’t rush to move on. Maybe pack a bag and travel somewhere that’s still celebrating—almost like a bit of time travel. At the very least, you’ll come back with a fresh story… and a new fridge magnet.