For over three decades, Aman’s settings have served as tranquil havens to gather as the year draws to a close. This festive season, Rituals of Joy guide the programming across Aman’s urban hotels and remote resorts, informed by the traditions, landscapes and cultures of their destinations. From Rajasthani folk music around the fire at Amanbagh and barefoot celebrations on Amanyara’s shores, to a New Year’s Day onsen ritual at Amanemu, each offers its own unique expression of the season. Together, these moments create meaningful ways to gather, celebrate and welcome the year ahead.
SOUTHEAST ASIA
Amanpuri, Thailand
At Amanpuri, the festive season moves from sunlit days on the beach to evenings overlooking the Andaman Sea. Thai and Japanese culinary traditions shape the celebrations, beginning with a barbecue of local seafood and Thai dishes cooked over charcoal on the sand. Christmas Eve sees candlelight surround the main pool as prime cuts and the day’s catch are roasted and grilled for a celebratory feast. Later in the week, Akari is reimagined as a lantern-lit Japanese garden for Rhythm of Japan, pairing washoku with seafood sourced from Japan. The year draws to a close on Amanpuri’s iconic steps, where guests gather at midnight as fireworks illuminate Pansea Beach.
Aman Nai Lert Bangkok, Thailand
Preparing to celebrate its second festive season, Aman’s newest urban sanctuary offers a place to pause in the Thai capital, with a programme anchored by tradition and the serenity of its surrounding park. From 1 December 2026 – 6 January 2027, weekly rituals include furoshiki (gift wrapping) and cocktail masterclasses, tea ceremonies, alms offerings at the local temple and guided mindfulness walks through Nai Lert Park. Meanwhile, a series of special events invite guests to come together for a host of unique sessions spanning a Wreath Workshop on Christmas Eve to Garden Yoga on Christmas morning. On 1 January, focus turns to intention setting, with First Blessings from local monks and a Floating Serenity singing bowl session in the hotel’s pool starting 2027 with wellness front of mind.
Amanpulo, The Philippines
Filipino traditions are at the heart of Christmas at Amanpulo. In the days leading up to Christmas, traditional merienda – the Filipino custom of gathering for a light afternoon meal – brings guests together over local delicacies, while Pamalican Island’s House Reef offers guided snorkelling among its vibrant marine life. On Christmas Eve, Noche Buena continues the celebrations beneath the stars at the Picnic Grove, where a Filipino feast is accompanied by carols from the Amanpulo family choir. Between celebrations, days unfold at an island pace, from time on the water to walks along the island’s white-sand shores.
Amanoi, Vietnam
Between the forested hills of Nui Chua National Park and Vinh Hy Bay, Amanoi’s festive season draws inspiration from the landscape and traditions of its coastal setting. Daytime activities range from sunrise treks to Goga Peak, overlooking Vinh Hy Bay and the East Sea, to Cham pottery with a local artisan and the 500-year-old craft of Vietnamese conical hat making. Evenings celebrate the region’s produce, including a beachside feast of the freshest catch from Vinh Hy Bay, while New Year’s Eve brings a gala dinner, live music, magic and traditional drum and lion dance. On the first day of 2027, guests can greet the sunrise from Goga Peak before gathering at dusk for a Cham blessing overlooking the sea, accompanied by traditional instruments and wishes for health, happiness and good fortune in the year ahead
Amantaka, Laos
In Luang Prabang, the festive season unfolds in step with centuries-old traditions. Christmas Eve begins with a poolside feast inspired by Laos’s vibrant street-food culture, while on New Year’s Eve guests can rise early to join the Buddhist custom of offering alms to local monks before an evening of live music and dining beneath the stars. The first morning of 2027 brings a traditional Baci ceremony – a centuries-old Luang Prabang ritual overseen by a master of ceremonies – gathering guests together for blessings of good fortune and wellbeing as the new year begins.
Amansara, Cambodia
Once the guesthouse of King Sihanouk, Amansara offers a gateway to the traditions and ancient heritage of Siem Reap. Throughout the festive season, guests can discover Cambodian culture through lotus folding, Apsara dancing and Khmer cuisine, but New Year’s Eve provides the defining moment. As twilight falls over the ancient towers of Prasat Kravan, a traditional Boung Suang offering opens the evening, followed by an alfresco Khmer dinner and cultural performances within the temple grounds. Afterwards, candlelit offerings are set afloat in a Loy Pratip ceremony, symbolising the release of the past and the welcoming of new beginnings.
INDONESIA
Amanjiwo, Java
Overlooking Borobudur and the surrounding Kedu Plain, Amanjiwo’s festive programme draws on the rich traditions of Central Java. On Christmas Eve, carols accompanied by a string quartet are followed by a Kaki Lima dinner inspired by Javanese street-food stalls and prepared at live cooking stations. For New Year’s Eve, Memayu Hayuning Jiwa – meaning ‘Towards a Harmonious Soul’ – begins at Borobudur with a candlelit Ritual of Light before a purification ceremony guided by a Javanese spiritual practitioner, using water gathered from nine sacred springs. As midnight approaches, monks offer traditional blessings and written wishes are offered to the fire, before a single gong sounds to mark the first moments of 2027.
Amandari, Bali
Interwoven with the village of Kedewatan and overlooking the verdant Ayung Valley, Amandari’s festive traditions have long been shaped by the community around it. On Christmas Eve, this close relationship is celebrated with gifts for local village performers and teachers, followed by Balinese dancing, live gamelan music and a family-style dinner. On New Year’s Eve, the connection comes to life once more as children from Kedewatan and Tatiapi villages perform traditional dances, accompanied by gamelan music played by their parents – continuing a tradition at Amandari spanning more than 30 years. Dinner and a fire dance carry the celebrations towards midnight.
Amankila, Bali
On a breathtaking stretch of coastline on the Lombok Strait, Amankila’s festive celebrations are guided by its scared setting in the shadows of Mount Agung. While by day, East Bali’s traditions guide creative workshops and family dining on the sand, by night, the local community from nearby Manggis Village join guests to share their stories against the starry night sky. Ritualistic dance and live music add to the atmosphere, while come 1 January, blessings and special ceremonies usher in prosperity and luck for the year ahead
Amanwana, Moyo Island
On the shores of Moyo Island, Amanwana’s festive programming is informed by beloved holiday traditions from near and far, including those unique to the resort’s Sumbawa setting. With donations from guests funding the resort’s ‘Adopt a Whale Shark’ initiative, festivities are also designed to celebrate the nature-rich environment that surrounds. designed to honour the nature-rich environment that surrounds. Tree and Coral Planting sessions are set to take place daily from 24 December 2026 – 1 January 2027, supporting conservation efforts, while on Christmas Eve, an Indonesian Street Food Lunch showcases beloved local dishes such as martabak and gado-gado. On Christmas Day, the sounds of Sakeco – a traditional musical art rooted in stories of love, faith and goodness – add to the atmosphere, while a soothing Floating Sound Bath at Mata Jitu Waterfall on 1 January balances the Champagne celebrations from the night before.
Aman Villas at Nusa Dua, Bali
On Bali’s southernmost peninsula, Aman Villas at Nusa Dua rests within easy reach of Denpasar International Airport yet feels a world away. Airy, private retreats, each villa rests in lush tropical gardens, perfect for families and groups seeking time together this festive season. Moments from the island’s golden beaches and frangipani scented hillside, Aman Villas at Nusa Dua can serve as a gateway to Balinese discovery, or guests can opt for a host of in-villa entertainment spanning sumptuous, multi-course celebratory dinners with accompanying local entertainment, host their very own Christmas movie nights – hot chocolates included – or venture to the Beach Terrace for an afternoon away from the festive frenzy.
JAPAN
Aman Tokyo, Japan
High above the capital, Aman Tokyo brings together Japanese New Year traditions and festive dining throughout the season. Christmas is celebrated with Edomae sushi and sake at Musashi and seasonal menus at Arva, before New Year’s Eve culminates in a Cenone Gala of Italian family recipes and seasonal Japanese ingredients, accompanied by live music. On New Year’s Day, guests can witness the first sunrise of 2027 before taking part in Kagami Biraki, the ceremonial opening of a sake barrel, alongside traditional mochi pounding and a Shishimai lion dance.
Aman Kyoto, Japan
Winter brings a quieter rhythm to Aman Kyoto, with seasonal cuisine and time-honoured New Year traditions unfolding throughout the festive period. Dining ranges from a Snow Crab Kaiseki, prepared in front of guests, to a Kyoto Hirai Beef Kaiseki on New Year’s Eve, followed by traditional Toshikoshi soba. On New Year’s Day, celebrations include Osechi cuisine, a Shishimai lion dance, mochi pounding and sake tasting. The first days of 2027 offer opportunities to experience Kakizome – the first calligraphy of the year, when aspirations and resolutions are set to paper – alongside Zen meditation with a local monk.
Amanemu, Japan
Overlooking the tranquil waters of Ago Bay, Amanemu welcomes the New Year through a series of distinctly Japanese rituals, with its forest setting and mineral-rich onsen offering a restorative backdrop to the celebrations. New Year’s Eve brings a traditional Japanese drum performance, Toshikoshi soba and a Champagne toast, before fireworks welcome 2027. On New Year’s Day, Osechi cuisine is followed by Kagami Biraki – the ceremonial opening of a sake cask – and a Sai-Shi Mai performance at dusk, while traditional mochi pounding continues the celebrations on 2 January.
CHINA
Amanyangyun, Shanghai
Amid ancient camphor trees and historic Ming and Qing dynasty dwellings, Amanyangyun offers an atmospheric setting for celebrations both Western and Chinese. The season begins with the illumination of the Christmas tree, accompanied by a local choir. On Christmas Eve, guests gather at Arva for an Italian feast, while New Year’s Eve moves from dinner to a lakeside countdown celebration. Looking ahead to Lunar New Year, a traditional reunion dinner is accompanied by a Face Changing performance of vibrant masks and costumes, while lion and dragon dances unfold beneath the King Camphor Tree to the rhythmic sound of drums and gongs.
Amandayan, Lijiang
The rich traditions of Lijiang’s Naxi culture come to life throughout the festive season at Amandayan. Christmas Eve brings music played on porcelain wind instruments, Naxi singing performed by a Heritage Master and traditional Leba dance, followed by a celebratory dinner and bonfire gathering. On New Year’s Eve, guests can discover Yunnan cuisine inspired by the culinary heritage of the ancient Tea Horse Road, before Wenchang Palace hosts Dongba calligraphy, Naxi storytelling and hand drumming ahead of the countdown to 2027. The programme continues into Chinese New Year with dumpling making, a reunion dinner and auspicious rituals to welcome the year ahead.
Amanfayun, Hangzhou
Surrounded by tea fields, ancient temples and bamboo groves, Amanfayun offers a peaceful setting for gathering and reflection as the year turns. Winter afternoons bring seasonal desserts
and warming drinks at Yuan, while the Aman Spa’s Kidney Nourishing Treatment draws on traditional acupressure techniques and can be accompanied by Ba Duan Jin, a traditional qigong
practice combining gentle movement and breathwork.
INDIA, SRI LANKA & BHUTAN
Amanbagh, India
Music, movement and storytelling bring the festive season to life at Amanbagh, drawing on Rajasthan’s rich cultural traditions. Christmas Eve unfolds in the courtyard with flute melodies, tabla rhythms and Rajasthani folk music, while throughout the season guests can discover local crafts including lac bangle making, henna and rangoli – intricate decorative patterns traditionally created to welcome good fortune. New Year’s Eve brings a traditional Indian fair, with celebrations continuing into 2027 with a Shiv Pooja ceremony, camel polo and a moonlit meditation beneath the Rajasthan sky.
Aman-i-Khás, India
At the edge of Ranthambhore National Park, the wilderness camp provides an intimate backdrop for festive gatherings. Christmas Eve centres on Dawat-e-Khas, a royal feast inspired by authentic Rajasthani flavours, served beneath the stars as traditional instruments provide the evening’s soundtrack. On Christmas Day, a barbecue brunch is accompanied by local folk music. The year draws to a close around the bonfire with cocktails and Rajasthani cultural performances, followed by a traditional Khas Khana dinner. A New Year’s Day Hunter’s Brunch welcomes 2027.
Amangalla, Sri Lanka
Steeped in the history of Galle Fort, Amangalla draws on Sri Lanka’s cultural and culinary heritage throughout the season. Its signature Rice & Curry Feast continues a tradition spanning more than 150 years, with Sri Lankan specialities prepared at live counters beside the pool. On Christmas Eve, carols sung by children from a local school fill the Great Hall, before a five-course dinner accompanied by live jazz and piano. On New Year’s Eve, a reflective session led by a Buddhist monk invites guests to commit unwanted thoughts from the past year to paper and ceremonially burn them, concluding with a sacred chant blessing. Celebrations and midnight fireworks follow, before the first day of 2027 begins with an almsgiving ceremony and the opportunity to visit local temples for blessings.
Amanwella, Sri Lanka
On Sri Lanka’s southern coast, Amanwella’s festive season follows the easy rhythm of life beside the Indian Ocean. Christmas Eve begins as the sun sets, with cocktails overlooking the water
followed by a seafood dinner and live instrumental music. Later in the season, a Sri Lankan Heritage Evening explores the island’s cuisine, spices and curry traditions alongside traditional drumming and dance. On New Year’s Eve, the final sunset of 2026 is marked with a traditional conch shell welcome, Champagne and a three-piece Calypso band, before a multi-course gala dinner and oceanfront countdown culminate in fireworks. The first morning of 2027 returns to a gentler pace, with meditation, breathwork and yoga on the beach followed by a nourishing breakfast overlooking the ocean.
Amankora, Bhutan
Across Amankora’s five lodges, Bhutanese customs and festive traditions create a rich programme of shared experiences. Christmas Eve features mask dances, folk songs and a seven-course dinner accompanied by traditional music. On Christmas Day, local monks offer blessings and guests can try their hand at activities ranging from archery to calligraphy and prayer-flag making. New Year’s Eve culminates around the bonfire, where good wishes are shared for the year ahead, while the first days of 2027 bring Lolay Lolay greetings from local children and a traditional Bhutanese Name-Giving ceremony, in which an elder bestows a name believed to serve as a guiding and protective force.
EUROPE & NORTH AFRICA
Amanjena, Morocco
Beneath Marrakech’s clear winter skies, Amanjena welcomes the festive season with Moroccan culture, restorative experiences and celebratory dining. Guests can discover local traditions through pottery, calligraphy, henna and the Moroccan tea ritual, alongside falconry, stargazing and sound healing. Christmas Eve is marked with dinner at Arva, before New Year’s Eve culminates in a gala at The Moroccan Restaurant with live music and surprises. On 1 January, a New Year’s Day brunch in the Olive Grove pairs dishes from the grill with a relaxed start to 2027.
Aman Le Mélézin, France
High in Courchevel 1850, Aman Le Mélézin brings the festive season indoors and out, from days on the slopes to fireside gatherings and winter treats on the terrace. Christmas Eve begins with the arrival of Père Noël, followed by a traditional French dinner at Akari and sweet treats around the fireplace. On Christmas Day, hot chocolate, vin chaud and marshmallows are served around the braseros on the heated terrace. New Year’s Eve ends beneath the stars, with a chocolate fountain and pink-hued candyfloss before midnight fireworks light up Courchevel and guests gather beneath the mistletoe to welcome 2027.
Aman Venice, Italy
The canals and palazzos of Venice provide an atmospheric backdrop to the festive season. On Christmas Eve, carols gather guests around Aman Venice’s grand piano before dinner at Arva and Midnight Mass, with hot chocolate and panettone awaiting on their return. On New Year’s Eve, an aperitivo and gala dinner give way to a journey across the lagoon by boat, as fireworks illuminate the sky above the Basilica della Salute. Back at the palazzo, zampone e lenticchie – traditionally served for prosperity and good fortune – marks the first moments of 2027.
Aman Rosa Alpina, Italy
In the heart of San Cassiano, Aman Rosa Alpina celebrates the festive season against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks and the village’s traditional Paisc de Nadé Christmas market. At the hotel, evenings move between Italian feasting at The Grill, piano-bar drinks at Il Salotto and private dinners in the Di Vino Room, surrounded by a collection of more than 25,000 bottles. New Year’s Eve brings Champagne and celebratory menus across the hotel. By day, guests can explore the Dolomiti Superski landscape with an expert guide, pausing for coffee and aperitivo along the way. Lunch awaits at the resort’s own private Mountain Hut, with homemade pasta and dishes cooked over fire served against panoramic views of the Dolomite peaks.
AMERICAS
Amanvari, Mexico
On Mexico’s East Cape, Amanvari marks its first festive season between desert, mountain and the Sea of Cortés. The celebrations begin with the winter solstice, when the year’s longest night is marked with a Temazcal ritual, bonfire and stargazing, while Christmas Eve sees lanterns released at dusk before an evening of dining and mezcal by firelight. As the year draws to a close, sunset sailing precedes a New Year’s Eve gala and midnight fireworks over the bay. The season culminates with Three Kings Day, when shoes are left out overnight for gifts, followed by Rosca de Reyes and hot chocolate the next morning.
Amanyara, Turks & Caicos
Amanyara is set on the shores of Providenciales – a pristine coastal hideaway where the sun’s rays and white sands form a restorative backdrop to festive celebrations. With pavilions and villas ensconced by tropical greenery or in private coves, time is reserved for winding down and reconnected with both loved ones and nature. Take part in multi-day Wellness Immersions in the island-inspired spa; encourage friendly competition with sporting tournaments spanning pickleball to cornhole; and gather for Caribbean dining feet-in-sand beneath vast open skies. True to tradition, Santa Claus makes his appearance on Christmas Day, delighting younger guests who are invited to cosy up for movie nights or take part in environmental conservation at the Nature Discovery Centre.
Amangiri, United States
The vast desert landscape surrounding Amangiri lends itself to a festive season centred on time outdoors, shared meals and moments beneath the stars. Native American hoop dancer Tomas Hunt, born and raised on the Navajo Nation, brings traditional performance and insight into Navajo culture to the programme, while astronomer Rich Csenge leads guests through the constellations using an Orion telescope beneath Utah’s clear winter skies. Christmas Day begins with the arrival of Santa and Mrs Claus by horse-drawn carriage, followed by a day of family activities and festive traditions. To close the year, New Year’s Eve brings Champagne and caviar and a celebratory dinner, ending with s’mores, a midnight toast and fireworks beneath the desert sky.
Aman New York, United States
Guided by festive traditions from America and further afield, Aman New York’s festive programming spans global dining to considered wellness and local experiences highlighting the best of the hotel’s Fifth Avenue setting. Celebrations begin during Thanksgiving, with morning meditation and an Italian twist on lunch, while even external guests can experience Aman’s festive spirit with Pie Provisions – a collection of handcrafted pies – designed to be enjoyed in the comfort of home. When Christmas Eve arrives, decadent dishes mark the occasion in both Arva and Akari, with a Christmas Day pastry station laden with indulgent confections. Come New Year’s Eve the festivities build to a spectacular crescendo, where a Gala Dinner at Arva accompanied by live music continues down at The Jazz Club with an electrifying party and countdown to midnight. On New Year’s Day, recoup with advanced wellbeing, including refreshing IV therapies and the invigorating benefits of the cryotherapy chamber.
