Although it is a really big deal on the Maltese Islands, not everyone must celebrate Christmas. After all, you may not be religious, or you may be away from family and close friends, or you simply don’t enjoy the fuss. So what to do on Christmas Day?

Missing family? Have a potluck party with friends

Call your expat friends who are also stranded during the holidays for some reason or another, and be each other’s family for the day. A potluck party is a great way to do this with very little investment and organisation; everyone brings a dish to share and next thing you know, there’s a big buffet on the table. All you need to do is provide the space; if space is not available, have a picnic – Christmas day in Malta tends to be on the sunny side.

Too much fuss? Enjoy some ‘me time'

If you simply don’t like the fuss, whether it’s because you don’t care about Christmas or simply because you prefer your own company, take some time off to do just that. Read a book. Take a long walk. Watch a movie. Visit a historic place (such as Birgu or Mdina) when there’s nobody about. Be the only person on the beach. The options are endless. There can be a lot to relish in the experience of having a whole island to yourself when everyone else is guzzling food and alcohol; make the most of it!

Not religious? It’s just another holiday

Ultimately, Christmas day is a day off and you can do whatever you like, alone, in company or a little bit of both. Whether you head to the beach, to nature, to the spa or make a road trip around the islands, the choice is entirely yours. Bear in mind that everyone else will have merry cheer on their minds, especially if you go to restaurants. Also, much of the public transport will be running on bare minimum. For the rest, it’s totally fine to do pretty much whatever tickles your fancy.