Its an experience - mostly Christmas eve is celebrated then chill on christmas day on the beach, the run up is children dressing up as santa and singing carols, A lot of the local people make cribs scenes which are sometimes intricate and mostly impressive. The hype of a British Christmas is missing thank goodness.

New Year is something else! going to the beach is a must, The fireworks are out of this world . Around Calangute they have a one way system best to avoid the roads and go local on foot its busy busy. There is certainly lots to see and do.

As to the cost shop around the prices are going up all the time. jan x

I agree with jantie, new years eve is amazing on the beach and what a fantastic way to start the new year. The weather is very good at that time of year, not as hot or humid as around easter time.

Its a fantastic time of year to go, I've spent the last 8 years in Goa at this time, chilled out Christmas and huge party and fireworks for New Year.

I've been at easter time too, the main difference between the two times is that it is much less humid at Christmas than Easter. However the sea is much warmer at Easter, although it's lovely at Christmas time too, but it's just like bath water at Easter. The days are shorter at Christmas time, but not terribly so, sundown is generally around about 6:10pm at Christmas.

As previously said, no hype and over commercialism at Christmas, which is great IMO

We loved the fact that Christmas didn't arrive until about the 21st of December,the kids coming round dressed up and singing carols and the nativity scenes were amazing- a lot of work goes into them

I was there for Christmas and Easter this last season. I preferred Christmas, low key, lovely weather and not as humid. The traffic around Calangute/Candolim in the few days before Christmas and up to New year was terrible though. We got caught in many a traffic jam on our way to and from the Northern beaches.
Whichever you decide you should book soon if you want Christmas and New year. Charter packages are almost sold out or are very very expensive and if you're looking at booking separate flights and hotels its worth knowing that hotel rates at that time can be thousands more rupees per night than at other times.