Excess, dressing up and make-believe are the norm in Vegas, and Christmas Day is like any other. So grab a margarita and enjoy the Elvis impersonator
• Read about more unusual Christmases in Ethiopia, Japan and Java
“Did you want fries with that?” This was never a question I expected to be asked at a Christmas dinner, but then this wasn’t an ordinary Christmas. I had opted to spend the festive season in the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas, and headed for the casino, wearing my Santa hat and expecting to see the festivities in full swing.
What I soon realised is that in a place like Vegas, where dressing up and make-believe are the order of the day, Christmas is pretty much like any other day. Soon, I was drinking margaritas at a bar complete with Elvis impersonators, waitresses who would rather be at home with their families, and touts trying to sell tickets for the Blue Man Group. I spent the evening desperately seeking Christmas, but found no carol singers, no snow outside the window and no tree in my bedroom.
