Epcot Holidays Around the World Including The Candlelight Processional 2015
For nearly two decades from just after thanksgiving right up to New Years the World Showcase at Epcot has hosted Holidays Around The World. This one of a kind event features storytellers and other entertainment from each of the countries sharing with guests how they celebrate the holiday times in their homeland.
In the past few years the Holidays Around The World have started to extend into Future World on the Fountain Stage with JOYFUL! A Gospel Celebration of the Season bringing the holiday music alive!
Added this year is the a cappella group the American Music Machine putting their unique twist on some holiday classic.
As guest head toward the World Showcase they are greeted by one of the most beautiful of Christmas Trees at Walt Disney World with ornaments from each of the pavilions around the lagoon.
Going counterclockwise we start with The Canadian Holiday Voyageurs, this group retiring for its 3rd year, takes guests on a musical tour of Canada.
As we venture deeper into the World Showcase, both United Kingdom and France tell the stories of how Santa Claus is seen in those areas of the world. But one of the highlights of all of the Holidays Around The World has to be these small dioramas on display in France, just put up along the pathway deeper into the France pavilion they give us a snap shot of what it must be like there.
New this year is the Storyteller in Morocco who talks of "the spice of life" from her country.
In Japan the story of the Daruma doll and the Japanese customs of the New Year are told by one of the most fun storytellers.
The American Adventure has the largest variety of entertainment choices, between the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, the story of Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and the Voices of Liberty dressed as Dickens Christmas Carolers you could spend almost the entire afternoon here. Which is to say nothing of the Candlelight Processional...we will get to that later. First we take a look at the story of the Maccabees and how the traditions of Hanukkah came to be.
But no visit would be complete to the American Adventure without seeing the Voices of Liberty.
Join us as we continue our Holidays Around the World on the next page.Germany is credited with starting a lot of Christmas traditions, unfortunately the pile ornament never really caught on big in America but Helga the German Storyteller shares with guests some that have.
China brings the holidays alive with the Chinese Lion Dancers that bring good fortune and happiness to all during the Lunar New Year and Lantern Festival.
Norway we meet Sigrid and Julenissen, as we learn of a mischievous barn gnome and how the Norwegians celebrate the holidays.
Mexico celebrates Feliz Navidad with Mariachis and Dancers on the World Showcase Promenade.
Of course the park is decorated all around for the holiday season.
But no visit to Epcot during the Holidays would be complete without seeing the Candlelight Processional. This long standing Disney Parks tradition goes back more than 50 years to when Walt Disney wanted to do something special at Disneyland for Christmas time. In 1971 when the Magic Kingdom opened is was part of the first Christmas season and stayed till 1994 when it was relocated to the American Gardens Theater and expanded to include multiple narrators over a months time. 
This years line up includes such esteemed talent as Whoppi Goldberg, Edward James Olmos, and of course Neal Patrick Harris all narrating the biblical tale of a savior born to a virgin in Bethlehem accompanied by local school and Disney Cast choirs, some of the Voices of Liberty, and a full orchestra.
Of course there is no better way to top off a day at Epcot than with IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, but during the Holidays Around The World a special Peace on Earth Holiday tag is added at the end of each show helping bring a extra BOOM to each silent night!