Looking Ahead to the Holiday Season

August still belongs to summer. There are hot days, warm evenings to enjoy, open windows at home and plenty of time before the first holiday plans become real. For those living in warmer climates, thoughts of colder days and the festive season may already be taking shape as a setting that feels entirely different from home. It might be Christmas with family, a few days in the mountains or New Year's Eve surrounded by snow.

Planning early has its appeal. You can picture the details that make this time of year memorable, from waking up to snow-covered views and enjoying a change of scenery to gathering around a table for warm meals, long conversations, preparing special drinks, and enjoying festive activities. If winter is already on your mind and you're looking forward to the celebrations, this guide offers a few ideas to help shape your holiday. We're still months away, but the anticipation has begun.

A Day of Christmas Traditions: Activities to Enjoy in Your Holiday Accommodation

Imagine opening the curtains to a white landscape, with the children already downstairs, hot chocolate in hand and ready to begin the day. The morning may be spent outside, perhaps skiing, building a snowman or playing in the snow, while the afternoon offers a chance to enjoy the festive season at a slower pace. The kids might come in to make gingerbread houses and decorate biscuits, while the rest of the family prepares the traditional holiday meal everyone has been waiting for. Those who would like to try something new can bring a traditional Alpine speciality to the table, such as cheese fondue or raclette, for a warm, shared meal.

As the evening approaches, everyone gathers around the table for dinner, followed by making s'mores by the fireplace and the biscuits made during the afternoon, while Christmas music fills the room. The day might end the same way it began, with hot chocolate in hand, but this time alongside Christmas stories or a film.

These simple activities can become part of holiday traditions. With spacious apartments and chalets, Emerald Stay creates inviting settings for families and groups to cook, play, gather and relax during the festive season.

Small Festive Details: Christmas Recipes to Make Together

Many Christmas traditions begin with something simple to prepare together. These two recipes bring the warmth of the season to your holiday accommodation, from a build-your-own hot chocolate station to a fondue shared around the table.

A Hot Chocolate to Share

What you'll need (serves 4 people):

• 750 ml milk

• 150 g dark or milk chocolate, broken into pieces

• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

• Optional Toppings: Whipped cream, marshmallows, chocolate shavings, sprinkles, cherries, crushed biscuits, chocolate or caramel sauce, a dusting of cinnamon or cocoa

Preparation

Warm the milk gently in a saucepan, taking care not to let it boil. Add the broken chocolate pieces, cinnamon and vanilla, then stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Pour into mugs and arrange the toppings as a build-your-own hot chocolate station, so that everyone can choose their favourites.

Prepare a Homemade Cheese Fondue

What you'll need (serves 6 people):

• 600 g Beaufort cheese, grated

• 300 g Comté cheese, grated

• 300 g Emmental or Gruyère cheese, grated

• 600 ml dry white wine

• 1 garlic clove, halved

• 30 g cornflour

• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

• 45 ml kirsch, optional and preferably at room temperature

• Freshly ground black pepper

• A pinch of grated nutmeg

• To dip in the fondue: 1 large stale loaf or 2 baguettes, cut into cubes, and/or boiled baby potatoes

Preparation

Mix the grated cheeses and cornflour in a bowl until the cheese is evenly coated, then set aside. Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the cut garlic clove and discard it. Pour in the wine and lemon juice, then warm over medium-low heat until small bubbles begin to appear around the edges. Do not allow the mixture to boil.

Add the cheese and cornflour mixture a handful at a time, stirring slowly in a figure-of-eight motion until it becomes smooth. Reduce the heat to low, then add the kirsch gradually while stirring continuously. Season with black pepper and nutmeg, then place the pot over the burner to keep the fondue warm. Don't let it boil; keep the heat low, as too much heat will cause the cheese to separate.

If you do not have a fondue set, prepare the cheese in a heavy-based saucepan and transfer it to a heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, ensuring that its base does not touch the water, and keep the pan over low heat. Stir the fondue occasionally to maintain its smooth consistency. Serve immediately with the bread cubes and warm baby potatoes.

A Mountain New Year's Eve: Traditions and Celebration

New Year's Eve offers a moment to look back on the year and welcome what comes next. If you are planning to spend this festive season in the French Alps, there are two ways to celebrate: by joining the celebrations in the village or by staying in and creating a more intimate evening with the people closest to you. For those who prefer to stay in, the right accommodation gives groups the chance to prepare dinner, set the table and enjoy the evening at their own pace.

Once the meal is over, family traditions can continue in the apartment or chalet, whether that means sharing memories from the past twelve months, watching the same film each year, or simply staying at the table a little longer. A selection of cocktails and mocktails gives everyone something to enjoy while waiting for midnight, and the evening could continue with activities, such as a board game or a karaoke session.

When the clock reaches midnight, you could keep things familiar and raise a toast to the new year or try new traditions from other countries, such as eating twelve grapes and making a wish with each one, walking around with an empty suitcase to welcome future travels, eating lentils as a symbol of prosperity or jumping from a chair to mark the beginning of the new year.

If you would rather head into the village, depending on where you are staying, the evening might include a fireworks display, lively streets, a special menu at a local restaurant, or a gathering hosted by one of the bars. Emerald Stay offers properties suited to both ways of celebrating, giving families and groups the choice between a private evening indoors and a more vibrant celebration nearby.

Preparing for Midnight: New Year's Eve Drinks

Once the meal is prepared and the evening begins to unfold, a festive drink gives everyone something to enjoy as the celebrations continue. These two options offer a choice for guests who drink alcohol and those who prefer not to.

A Spiced Apple Spritz (with Alcohol)

What you'll need (serves 2 people):

• 200 ml cloudy apple juice

• 100 ml Prosecco

• 50 ml sparkling water

• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice

• Ice

• Apple slices

• 2 cinnamon sticks

Preparation

Fill two glasses with ice. Pour 200 ml of cloudy apple juice and 2 teaspoons of lemon juice into a jug, stir, then divide the mixture between the glasses. Add 50 ml of Prosecco and 25 ml of sparkling water to each glass. Stir gently once or twice, then finish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick before serving.

A Cranberry and Orange Fizz (without Alcohol)

What you'll need (serves 2 people):

• 200 ml cranberry juice

• 100 ml orange juice

• 100 ml sparkling water

• Ice

• Orange slices

• Fresh cranberries, to serve

Preparation

Fill two glasses with ice, then divide 200 ml of cranberry juice and 100 ml of orange juice between them. Add 50 ml of sparkling water to each glass and stir gently. Finish with an orange slice or a few fresh cranberries before serving.

The First Thoughts of Winter: Planning for the Holidays

With summer still at its warmest, it’s natural to start thinking about colder days and the celebrations that come with them. Christmas meals, snowy surroundings, time with family and friends, traditions and the anticipation of New Year's Eve all give us something meaningful to look forward to.

For those who enjoy planning early, the ideas in this guide offer a starting point for imagining how your days could look in the coming season, from festive activities to shared meals and warming drinks. The holidays may still be months away, though a little preparation can already make them feel closer.