Advertisers relentlessly hitting us with reasons to part with more money than we can afford; dark skies hurling wave after wave of pounding rain on shoppers trooping through the slush in a ground battle to capture ‘this weeks’ trainers for little Jimmy; "must haves - can’t gets"; "last months – won’t do’s"  - words of x-mass destruction in a seasonal war of goodwill. And that’s just before the big day.

Then there’s the aftermath; nuclear-family fallouts over who controls the TV remote; days of careful culinary preparation reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes; a famine of gratitude in an epidemic of gluttony. But there is an alternative - Christmas in Tenerife.

For some, toil, strife and cold, dark days with depressingly few hours of sunlight form part of the Christmas package with traditional discomforts setting the festive scene. But how about giving yourself and your family a change this year?

There’s no better tonic for the deep winter blues than a dose of warmth away from everyday routines. Tenerife is the number one destination for UK winter escapees, where almost-guaranteed sunshine keeps average winter temperatures up to ‘comfortable setting’ on your central heating control.

Whether you want a Christmas with a difference or to completely forget about it altogether, it’s understandable why more and more people are forsaking their festive winter woollies for shorts and bikinis whilst the rest of Europe turns blue.

What you’ll get:

Frosted volcano

Many locals head up through the Tenerife pine forests on Christmas day to have snowball fights or build snowmen on the patches of white that dot the national park around the foot of Mount Teide, the world’s third largest volcano.

Turkey with a tan

Dozens of Tenerife restaurants  offer a full Christmas menu after which, instead of dozing off in front of television re-runs, you can sleep off post-pudding lethargy with a siesta on the beach.

The colour of Christmas in Tenerife

Most of the towns display detailed nativity scenes. Local councils bedeck the streets and swaying palm trees with decorative illuminations while shopkeepers brighten their windows with gift-wrapped boxes, pine cones and deep-red poinsettias.

Tinsel tunes

There are more than enough British bars in Tenerife blasting out Silent Night than you can shake a Christmas stocking at, but if you prefer you carols more serene and composed, numerous local groups, including the four British schools on the island, hold traditional concerts over the holiday period. Check Tenerife Events  for more details.

Christmas served chilled

Its well known that the Spanish are one of the most laid back nationalities in Europe and this relaxed attitude can’t help to rub off when the most taxing decision will involve when to turn over to get an even tan.

What you won’t get:

As damp as a wet thing

Unless of course you choose to cool off in the tumbling surf. There's no denying Christmas in Tenerife is a busy time but there’s always room on the beaches. Playa del Duque in front of the Bahia del Duque Hotel, is a particularly good beach, as is Playa las Vistas in Los Cristianos. Although there is an outside chance of rain in the winter months - more so in the northern resort of Puerto de la Cruz – blue skies abound in the land of eternal Spring.

Jack Frost nipping you in places that are better left un-nipped

If breath was designed to be seen it would come in all different colours. Leave the nose dripping and numb fingers back in Blighty. Layers of sun tan cream are the only protective coverings you’ll need to face the elements of a winter in Tenerife.

Stuck for gift inspiration

Perfumes, alcohol and tobacco are substantially cheaper in Tenerife than in other countries and with several excellent shopping centres in the southern resorts like the Gran Sur  in Fanabe, and the classy Corté Ingles Department Store in Santa Cruz in the north, it shouldn’t be too hard to find that present with a difference.

A poke in the eye from all angles

Escape from the emotional blackmail from TV, newspaper and magazines. There’s no sound like the silence of suppressed advertising.

Christmas the Canarian way

The Canarians start their celebrations on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), when all the family get together for a big meal. Instead of mince pies, sausage rolls and assorted nuts, turrones (fudge bars), polverones (powder cakes) and mazapan (marzipan shapes) are the treats of the table and suckling pig or barbecued meat is served with the traditional vegetable of Tenerife Christmas, the sweet yam.

Navidad(Christmas day) is not really a day of holiday, more a recovery period, like our Boxing Day, and presents aren’t usually exchanged until Los Reyes (Three Kings day) on January 6th.

Joe Cawley, My Destination Tenerife