Roaring log fires, Xmas trees and decorations in an alpine chalet, someone else doing all the cooking and clearing up, plentiful snow and a genuine Christmas atmosphere seem to indicate a pretty good way to celebrate Christmas.  A few years ago it was but it seems things have changed. The market has fallen in recent years with tour operators offering less holidays and even then having to discount heavily to sell holidays at this time of year.  Earlier this December a week in Kitzbuhel was going for just cost £295, down from £795. A reduction of £500.  These sort of offers would not be made unless things weren't selling.

So why the drift, or even stampede, away from Christmas? In part it seems because families want to stay at home and celebrate in familiar surroundings. "We were away in Switzerland last Christmas and though we had a great time we missed our family and friends," says mother of 3, Krystyna Chauncey. "Even the children wanted to enjoy a family Christmas at home and open all their presents in familiar surroundings." Also the snow levels have changed as less snow falls earlier in the season.  In part this causes anxiety but it also makes people opt  for the high altitude and snow-sure resorts and, let's face it, Val Thorens is not as attractive as Kizbuhel.

But in my humble opinion Christmas has some distinct advantages and perhaps people should think again.  It is after all reasonably priced and the tour operators go to every effort to create a Christmas atmosphere complete with turkey and all the trimmings.  It is wonderful to have someone else doing all the work too.  Having a ski on Christmas day is truly wonderful and of course young children can make as many snowballs and as big a snowman as they want. Also the pistes are wonderfully empty as many locals stay away too preferring to have their ski trip a week later at New Year.

"Christmas is a great time to go skiing with your family as all kids, big and small, love being in the snow and can enjoy tobogganing, building a snowman, ice skating and maybe even try husky dog sledging or ski dooing as well as of course skiing and boarding," says Katie Waddington from Zenith holidays.  She also observes an added bonus. "Apparently the average British person consumes between 5,000 and 6,000 calories on Xmas Day and at least on a ski holiday you can ski it off rather than worrying about joining a gym in January!"

However this year I won't be out at Christmas as we are having a big family Christmas and various relatives are far too old to travel.  I will miss it as I have spent Christmas in the Alps the last few years.  However, I'll survive as I'm flying back to the UK on December 23^rd and then back out to Switzerland on Decemebr 27^th.  Working as a ski instructor I can't afford to miss out on the busiest time of the year, but I will miss skiing on Christmas day and building a snowman with my kids. There's nothing quite like it.

A version of this blog appears in James's regular column for In The Snow magazine.

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