By Charly SHELTON

For tourists around the world, Disneyland is a major destination that draws in millions of visitors each year. Families come from everywhere to visit “the happiest place on Earth.” But for locals, the summer and spring break crowds are daunting. Many children in the LA area grew up with the annual family trip to Disneyland at Christmas, when it was less crowded and not as hot. Though crowds have grown in size over the years, the tradition still holds true and it just doesn’t seem like Christmas without a trip to the merriest place on Earth. And Disneyland can really put on a holiday show.

From the seasonal goodies, like gingerbread men, eggnog and handmade candy canes to the ride overlays like “It’s A Small World Holiday” and “Haunted Mansion Holiday,” the resort does holidays like none other. When combined with other favorites, like the “Believe In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular and “A Christmas Fantasy” parade at Disneyland and “World of Color – Season of Light” at Disney California Adventure (DCA), it adds up to a real holly-jolly day that gets guests ready for the winter holidays.

One thing that I really like about the Disneyland Resort holiday celebration is that it is about more than just Christmas. The celebrations of many people and other companies may utter, “happy holidays” to be politically correct as well as not leaving out the non-Christmas winter holidays. But, in my experience, few who say “happy holidays” actually know what are the other holidays. Over at DCA, the Festival of Holidays honors a large selection of winter traditions and foods from Christmas, Navidad, Hanukkah, Yule, Diwali, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day. Along with short descriptions of each holiday throughout the festival, foods from each culture’s traditions of the winter holidays are served in taster-sized portions, priced per taste, to give guests the opportunity to experience holidays around the world through cuisine. From the Diwali favorites of braised lamb cheeks with Mediterranean cauliflower and pineapple kesari with golden raisins, to the Kwanzaa-inspired foods of Nashville that include hot fried turkey with dill pickles or sweet potato pie, grilled chicken sausage and red beans and rice, there is something familiar and something new for everyone to sample.

My personal favorite had to be either the Kwanzaa macaroni and cheese with cornbread crumbles or the Christmas classic green bean casserole. Both of these were just very well done, hearty takes on classics that are hard to mess up, but even harder to really impress with. Suffice it to say, I was very impressed. Honorable mention goes to Diwali’s Chana masala with grilled garlic naan, Christmas’ roast turkey and stuffing slider with cranberry sauce and gravy, and Diwali’s pineapple kesari. All of the food here was spectacular and it’s a great way to experience more than just the traditional Christmas pudding and turkey with your winter holiday celebration.

The Festival of Holidays takes place every day during the holidays at the Disneyland Resort celebration, which is on now through Jan. 7.

  Charly Shelton