With the weather reaching a balmy 75F, Elbow Beach proved as popular as ever among Christmas Day revellers.

Thousands headed down to the picturesque Paget location to toast the holiday, with some venturing into the sea for a brisk dip.

“I had no idea it would be this warm,” said Helen Scott, a teacher at Warwick Academy. “I’ve always gone back to England to be with friends and family, and I just decided it’s about time I tried a Christmas in Bermuda. I’m glad I stayed here — there’s no rat race and it’s perfect.”

Bermudian Jeron Gunness was spending his first-ever Christmas Day on Elbow Beach.

“I wanted a new experience, and it has been fun,” he said. “I see a lot of Canadians going swimming. I don’t know if I will, but I might try.”

Theuns de Klerk from South Africa, who works at HSBC, said: “It’s a great atmosphere at the beach today. This is what Christmas is all about: friends and family coming together and enjoying themselves.”

Meanwhile, corporate administrator Christine Whitestone, from Britain, called the vibe of the get-together “glorious”.

“I’d been told that it’s always hot on Christmas Day in Bermuda, but I guess seeing is believing,” she said.

Stephanie Bushby was spending her third Christmas away from her family in Canada, after previously marking the day in Turkey and Germany.

“I’m quite taken aback by being at the beach on Christmas Day,” she said, adding that she was enjoying the simplicity of the season.

Carrie DeSilva, whose father is Bermudian, said that an Elbow Beach visit was part of her Christmas Day tradition.

“The energy here is wonderful, everyone is in such a good mood. It’s beautiful,” she said.

Celebrating her first Christmas on the Island, Canadian native Jaclyn Pearl said: “I’ll take the beach over the snow any day.”

This view was echoed by her countryman Chris Monger, who was visiting Bermuda to see his sister.

“This place has exceeded my expectations,” he told The Royal Gazette.

Hairdresser Rebecca Jewell added: “I miss my family, but I enjoy being in Bermuda a lot more than being back in rainy England.

“This is way more fun, and my family would actually rather be here as well.”