Archive for December, 2011
Upcoming New Year Carnivals in US
One of the most famous places during New Year celebrations, United states, has been a host to many grand shows for the Eve, and this year also US is bringing many entertaining events , at various places of the continent, to celebrate the true spirit of celebration and happiness on the arrival of 2012. Many New Year carnivals are been organized by different state’s societies, so no matter which part of the continent you are, you can always go and be a part of a happening carnival festival in US.
Some of these upcoming carnivals are:
- The Saranac Winter Carnival
This grand carnival, which opens up with a magnificent firework show, in the famous Ice Palace, of Eastern US, New York, is one of the longest running New Year’s show. Celebrating its 114th anniversary this coming season, the carnival is a 10 day long event, where you get to see amazing dance shows, sports events, two parade shows and fireworks. Celebrated from February 3rd to 12th, the advance booking for the shows has already begun. So do not miss out on a wintry fun, and reserve your place in the Ice Castle.
- Rockwell Public Library Winter Carnival
The Rockwell Public Library, in Wichita, Kansas, in United States, arranges a grand winter carnival, where you can enjoy a lot of entertaining activities and welcome the New Year on an interesting note. Taking place on 30th of December, the carnival can be enjoyed anytime from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. There will be a lot of games and competitions for everyone, while the children can also win amazing prizes. A perfect family entertainer, the carnival promises a lovely time.
- Centennial Winter Carnival and New Year’s Celebration
This amazing New Year’s Event, is going to take place at the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, River Road, in Delaware state of US. The carnival welcomes each and everyone in the celebration of the coming year, through lots of fun activities and enjoyment. Many winter activities are a part of the carnival, and you can enjoy the evening with ice carving, snowman and marshmallow man making, enjoying sleigh rides and hayrides, and watching brilliant bonfires. You can also have delicious hot chocolates, cookies, while singing carols. Drop in at any time between 10 Am to 5 PM, on the 31st of December.
- Holiday Festival of Lights Winter Carnival
This entertaining carnival will literally make your New Year celebrations memorable. Organized at the Charleston County Park, Charleston, in US, you must attend this carnival on the day. Celebrated on the 31st, the event conducts many activities and shows for the people, where you can enjoy a lot of excitement and winter chills. The carnival is especially amusing for the kids, as a lot of fancy rides, jump castles, climbing walls, old fashioned carousels and night attractions would be available. The event begins at 5:30 in the evening of 31st December.
- New Year’s Eve Block Party Carnival Rides
This New Year’s Eve carnival, is celebrated in the OC Fair and Event Center, in Costa Mesa, California state. Beginning at 7:30 PM on the 31st of December, the event offers an exciting open air party, where you can enjoy luxury dining, carnival rides, casinos and many interesting games. The musical band performances, will create a history of music by tributing the four decades of music, and serenading bands like U2, Elton John, David Bowie, Jim Morrison and the Cure. Celebrate the night with fun, food and music and welcome the coming year with enjoyment.
- Lucid New Year’s Carnival
Talking about New Year Carnivals, how can the fashion center , New York, remain behind any other US state! Organized in Lucid area, this New Year Carnival is an entertaining event, where you can join the crowd, to attend the midnight countdown and fireworks. With world renowned DJs, open bar drinks, extensive menus, dance floors, and champagne toasts, welcome the arrival of the new year. Beginning at 8: PM on the 31st night, the carnival will continue to 4:00 AM of the next morning . Be a part of this exciting gathering and enjoy your New Year’s Eve.
- Waterford Lakes Santas Winter Wonderland Village Carnival
Organized in the Waterford Lakes Town Center, Orlando, in Florida, this one is a month long carnival, which begins on 2nd of December and continues till 2nd of January, and celebrates Christmas as well as New Year’s Eve both. In this carnival you can have an absolute family time. Enjoy the amazing Christmas themed rides and shows, also a rendezvous with Santa during Christmas season, while the concluding days will be dedicated to New Year celebrations. From 5 PM onwards, enjoy your New Year fun and recreation here, while making lovely memories till next 31st of December.
New Year Eve will be multilingual in Sydney
Just like the rest of the world, Sydney is also gearing up for its New Year Eve’s grand celebrations, for which it has planned a theme called “Time to Dream”.
The theme for the celebration, which has been brought into scene by the Creative Director of New Year festivities, Marc Newson, is expected to be a vibrant, lively and colorful affair, with the main Harbor Bridge getting ready to deck up with the words “Welcome To Sydney”, in sixteen languages, including English, Arabic, Greek, Swahili, Gadigal, Chinese, Greek and Russian.
The entire celebrations, decorations and party would be in four colors; violet, representing community, blue for the harbor as well as future aspirations, green for the environment and yellow for the hopes and optimism that each year brings with itself.
The council of the city added that the firework display, which is the most grand affair of the celebrations , is going to be an even bigger affair this year. Technology is supposed to be brought into this dazzling show, and it will be a sight to look at. Only this one event is expected to draw maximum number of crowd, even more than what London, Berlin or New York draws, respectively.
The whole event has been an outcome of a planning of 15 months, and it contributes a lot to the economy of the country, about $156 millions. The Harbor Bridge is not the only place for New Year celebrations, other place are also going to arrange their own events, but they will not be as grand and magnificent as this one. Newcastle, Ulladulla, and Hunter Valley are other places which plan to welcome 2012 with their own firework displays, lots of food and entertainment.
So with this global welcome to the New Year, Sydney encourages people to celebrate, to dream and to aspire , even bigger in the coming year.
Best New Year Messages and Wishes
The season for parties, celebrations, lots of fun and new resolutions, New Year is the grand annual affair, that everyone raise a toast to. This is, probably, the only festival which is celebrated without any barriers of nation, color, language or religion, and gives a perfect example on the name of united celebration, in this chaotic muddle of divided world.
Oh but we are talking here, about the fun filled activities and happiness that is associated with the day, and not the desolation and crisis that the world seems to be filled with, otherwise. So bring out the bells, all the old wine bottles and the fattest turkey in the market, to scream the loudest call of Happy New Year, and for those special friends, who are not around you, send them your best wishes on the day, through amazing New Year messages and wishes, which will either make them laugh or bring tears to their eyes.
Here are a few best happy New Year messages for you:
· We might not be close enough to exchange New Year hugs with each other, but sometimes words play a proxy in conveying those wishes that are brimming our hearts. So a very Happy New Year to you my dear, and may it will be a year full of happiness and wonderful surprises for you.
· Each day we live, gives us something substantial, because we learn something new in every thing we do; so do not mourn the time which is leaving you, and welcome the new day that brings with itself the promises of new lessons. A very happy New Year.
· May the Lord brings you a lot of success, happiness, joy and achievement, in the coming year, and no trace of sadness knocks your door. Hearty New Year regards to you.
Oh no, not the time to shed tears and get emotional, as you can also send witty , leg pulling and humorous messages to your loved ones, if that suits your personality more. So share the laughter on a special day like this, through these funny New Year Wishes:
· Here comes the day again when all the drunkards get an excuse to drink gallons and gallons of wine on the name of New Year celebrations, like you my tipsy friend. So do not get high, when we all are saying goodbye, to the old year, and have a sober happy New Year.
· This last year has been a pain for you…failed relationships, holes in pockets, a sulking job, and a sulking you, don’t think I’m scratching the wounds. But today you must be the happiest person, now that the year is ending. Lets hope that the history doesn’t repeat itself, so wish you a very Happy New Year.
· Another New Year’s Eve and another round for making silly resolutions. Make a lot of them, as that is the true spirit of the day, and you don’t have to pay for them; but make sure you don’t keep them as they are never made to be kept. So I make my resolution that I will never irritate you people again. Have a blast.
So there, you don’t have to abide by any code of conduct or strict language barriers to wish the people you love, a Happy New Year. If you are gay by nature, be humorous in your messages, and if you are emotional then send them some heart touching lines. Show your true feelings this New Year to your loved ones, and have a ball, wishing people.
Best Destinations For Christmas
With the arrival of December, you see a splash of happiness all around you, a wintry chill in the atmosphere, and the excitement of Christmas in every household. This is the season of holiday, celebrations, and many traditional practices, as the birthday of Jesus Christ is celebrated in the entire world, with lots of interesting activities, one of which is traveling.
People make the most of their Christmas holidays, and plan out a vacation in a place, where the Christmas celebrations will be different from their own, and which will also give them a satisfaction of a holiday outing. So find out the best places to visit on Christmas, and make your Christmas holidays a delightful experience.
Most Popular Christmas Destinations
Rome, Italy
Rome, the city of ancient architecture, is a popular getaway during Christmas, when it literally floats in the festivities of the day. The delicious food, family gatherings, and the midnight mass in the chapels, every part of Christmas in Rome, is a not-to-miss experience. The Vatican City, hosts the best mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, with all the other churches , illuminating in thousand splendid lights. The central plaza of the town, Piazza Navona, is the best hangout during the celebration of the Eve, with markets in their full splendor, restaurants catering to the guests , and people enjoying ice skating at various places. Christmas in Rome, is definitely a unique experience.
Las Vegas, US
It won’t be a surprise to find Vegas in the list, as the city of cabarets and casinos, definitely knows how to throw a grand Christmas party. The entire Nevada city is lit up in bright lights, and various Christmas shows are the best part that Vegas has to offer. Be at the best places on your Christmas in Las Vegas, like the lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and watch the charm of the city of show biz on the Eve. Eat and drink in any of the restaurant and bar, the city keeps its joints open for the entire night.
London, UK
Christmas in London is a season of shopping, having entertaining activities like ice skating, meeting Santa on the streets with his gift bag on, and decorating huge Christmas trees. The main point of celebration here, will be the Trafalgar Square, where you would see the most splendid lightings, dazzling markets and streets and the giant decorated tree, gifted to London by Norway, every year. Eat the most delicious food and enjoy the best wines, while gathered at the square on the Eve, enjoying the night with all your loved ones. London is covered in snow during Christmas, but still is the most popular holiday destination during the festival.
Paris, France
One of the elitist and fashionable place in the world, Paris, is not to miss out during this festival. Christmas in Paris, is a time to party, splurge on the most expensive wine, food and celebrations and see everything, glittering in the superlative degree. Paris offers you a wonderful display of fireworks on the Eve, while the Cathedral at Notre Dame, with its huge decorated tree, also hosts the midnight mass. The Champs Elysees is the best plaza and market area during Christmas, while the ice skating at Eiffel Tower is another option.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Brazilian city, famous for its grand carnivals and gay lifestyle, is very popular during Christmas. This day again, the city arranges for amazing parades, shows, carnivalesque fun and glittering trees in the town. For the Eve’s midnight celebration, you need to be at the Rio’s Lagos, the lake of Rio, whose floating tree is the main attraction of the night. Christmas in Rio de Janeiro is a night full of music, dance, drinking and fun with all your loved ones. Do not miss out on this exclusive place on Christmas, and make some amazing memories.
New Year Messages and Wishes
In most literal sense, the New Year is no festival, there is no history or mythology associated to it, and no saint was born or martyred on the day. No political or social revolution came into light on this day, neither any constitution or ordinance was laid, but still the most widely celebrated day, the 31st of December, is a very simple occasion celebrated in the most extravagant and expensive manner.
The day is celebrated to commemorate all the special days that we have lived in the past year, all the astounding memories we have made, the experiences we have gathered and the bonds we have established, but above all, the day is celebrated as a grand welcome to the arriving year, which brings with itself, pockets full of sunshine, or rather, lots of hopes and dreams.
It is a very old belief, that the way your first day of the year passes, the entire year will bring the same mood and temperament for you, and thereby, people celebrate the last day of the old year and the first day of the new, so that they can begin the year on a happy note, with all the people they love. And the warm wishes and greetings that everyone share with each other, is the best attraction of the entire celebration, after all these genuine wishes make the most of your night.
With the new technological advancement , everyone start wishing their special people through text messages or E mails, through letters, greeting cards and E cards. As not everyone can be present with you, at the moment, to share hugs with you, you can send them amazing New Year messages, to not deprive them of your love tokens.
Just imagine how would a text message make you feel, when at the stroke of midnight, you check your inbox, and find some sweet words of good luck and Happy New Year! Like:
The clock has struck 12, and the New Year has begin;The sky is still dark, and the stars are still blinking;But the arrival of New Year, has brought it’s glow;To make your life full of happiness and love.A Very Happy New Year!
Won’t the message bring an instant smile on your face. Let’s have a look at some other New Year wishes, to wish your friends.
l The last entire year was a crazy year for me, full of laughter, exciting events and the warm feelings of being loved, as you, my best friend have been there for me, every moment. This year too I want it exactly the same, with your presence in my life, so that we can make an even more crazier year. Happy 2012! l May the love of God always be upon you, and may He bestow on you his ever wanted grace, so that all the coming years are an absolute delight for you. Happy New Year!
l With the bottles of champagne, chocolaty taste of the cakes and cookies, brilliance of the fireworks and grace of our beloved Almighty, may this year be a splendid one for you. Happy New Year!
l Let’s not make any New Year resolutions this year, as we never keep it; Let us only promise each other to stay together with love, friendship and happiness, in all the times of laughter or tears. Happy New Year to all my besties!
With messages like these, you can wish your loved ones, a Happy New Year and also show them your love, and tell them how much they mean to you. What can be a better start of the year than this. So write your own New Year messages this year and convey your wishes to all the important people of your life. And yes, a very Happy New Year to all!
Christmas Traditions in Belgium
Christmas is that time of the year, when the whole world seems to be celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, with immeasurable mirth and joy. The fun, the activities, and the love, that are the integral parts of the celebration, make the festival even more joyous.
The festival is the occasion when Christ’s birthday is celebrated, but this is one custom that the Christian countries follow in the most literal sense, while for most of the other countries who follow different religions, Christmas is celebrated as a day of fun filled activities, gifts exchanging and enjoying family time together.
Belgium, which is a home to German , French and English people, celebrate Christmas in both ways, by celebrating Christ’s Birthdays and by enjoying their own traditional practices, that revolves around St. Nicholas, a.k.a. Santa Claus, whose benevolent heart has started the tradition of Christmas gift giving. And not just Saint Nicholas, but there is one more figure in Belgium who make his rounds during Christmas, and this is Pere Noel.
Belgium has two major regions divided on the basis of the language people speak, and these are, the Dutch speaking Flanders and the French speaking Walloons. According to the legends, the Dutch are visited by St. Nicholas, who comes on every 4th December to observe good and bad children, and returns on 6th to either shower candies or toys on them or to put twigs in their shoes. This is the most awaited time of the festive season, when children put on their best behavior to appear in the Saint’s good books.
In the other, French speaking region of Belgium, Pere Noel make rounds of the residential areas, with his companion Pere Fouettard to see the kids, and to check who is being good and who is being bad. He also bestows the same favors on the kids as Saint Nicholas. This is the major activity and tradition of Belgium Christmas, which is not practiced on the main Christmas Eve, the 25th of December.
Christmas in Belgium happen during 6th day of the month, when they observe a very traditional Christmas, in their own way, with church services, exchanging gifts and singing traditional Christmas songs. The special Christmas dishes and cakes are as much an integral part of the day, as on the 25th December.
The American culture, globalization, media and entertainment has brought the universal Christmas celebrations in Belgium as well. Under this, the Belgians have started celebrating, Christ’s birthday, by decorating a Christmas tree, and hiding gifts for their children in their closets or under the tree. The Belgians do not observe midnight masses and church services, on the 25th Christmas, but yes, they also party like the rest of the world and have a great family time.
It is saint Nicholas’ birthday, that the Belgians celebrate as a traditional Christmas on the 6th day of December, with complete church services, and their own ritualistic songs for the day.
So one can eat the special sweet bread cougnou, and shout Merry Christmas on the main Eve also, and enjoy Christmas in a very Belgian way.
Christmas Celebration Around The World
Christmas is that time of year, when all one can see around him or her, is an atmosphere of celebration, festivities, fun, joy and greetings. On the festival, people like to have a vacation, with their family members, friends and spouse, and thereby exploring the festive activities and arrangements in various places of the world.
Every country, has its authentic charm to offer to a visitor, and through its culture, festivals and fairs, every place has something unique to offer. Let’s have a look at what these hand picked, but charming destinations around the world, are offering a tourist, during Christmas.
Christmas in Chile : This South American republic, offers a comparatively warm Christmas, unlike the US states, and celebrates a very ritualistic Christmas, with proper church practices. The Chileans also observe a typical Roman Catholic practice called ‘Novena’, which is a prayer service, that begins nine days before the Eve, and the other major activities like decorating the house with lights, nativity scenes, and Christmas tree is common. Clay figures called ‘pesebre’ are also used in decorating the tree. In Chile, you will also find their own additions to the Christmas delicacies like ‘azuela de ave’, chicken soup; ‘pan de pasqua’, candy stuffed bread; ‘rompon’ and ‘cola de mono’, the special drinks for Christmas, which brings a uniqueness in Chilean Christmas. And the best part is their inclination to celebrate Christmas with nature, and natural elements, so have a Chilean ‘Feliz Navidad’.
Christmas in Egypt : Egyptians are the followers of Coptic Church, which is an Orthodox church, and thereby celebrating Christmas on the 7th of January. An Egyptian Christmas is a much rigorous practice, with people avoiding meat dishes. The Eve witness a constant ringing of bells in churches and prayers, which is followed by a meal, known in Egyptian as ‘fata’, which consists of boiled meat dishes, bread and rice dishes and drinks. Christians in Egypt celebrate the Christmas festival in a strict code but the customary fun and festivities also make its presence felt during the Eve.
Christmas in Puerto Rico : Puerto Rico celebrates Christmas in a very gay manner, with the entire month dedicated to the celebrations. The 24th, 25th (Navidad), 31st and 6th of January being most important days of the entire festive season. The Ricans wear their traditional straw hats, called ‘pava’, to get a proper feel of the occasion, and roam around the neighborhood in ‘parrandas’, small groups, to sing Christmas carols. The Puerto Ricans eat roasted pig ‘lechon asao’ on the Christmas day, as a traditional meal. The celebration follows till January, when on the 5th day, children have the most fun, on Los Reyes, through feeding grass to the camels. Though most places have started the celebrations as US Christmas, some places in the islands of Puerto Rico, still practice an old traditional Christmas.
Christmas in Belgium : Though the Belgians celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday on 25th December as the rest of the world, the main Christmas events in the country take place on 4th and 6th December, when St. Niklaas and Pere Noel, visit children and distribute gifts to them if they had been good, or else no gifts for them. Belgian Christmas Eve, is also an event of family dinner, social gatherings and church services, and the families listen to the masses in the same way as the others. Children get gifts under decorated trees too, but the practice is mainly adopted from US countries to cerebrate a world wide festival.
Explore the charm of Christmas in these unique lands, uniquely, and have a Merry Christmas.
Funny New Year Messages
With the vast number of mobile phones flooding the market nowadays, it seems like everyone has access to SMS messaging. And, like any other holiday, when the clock strikes midnight you’ll get a flood of “Happy New Year!” texts – which means you’ll want to come up with some funny New Year messages to stand out when you reply. If they sent something out to everyone they know, chances are good they will get hit with a ton of messages all at once, right?
The best way to let thank them is by giving them a good laugh when they read yours, but how can you do that in just 160 characters? Though there aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for doing this on the fly (especially after a couple of drinks) it is possible to say something witty and memorable. It’s best to be talked about for a humorous one-liner instead of a lampshade on your head, you know?
Here are three tips to help you come up with the perfect reply:
Take a shot at yourself
If you’re like most people, the opportunity to turn the page on a new calendar is greeted with some reflection about what you’d like to change in the next twelve months. You might have even thought through a few resolutions to help you achieve those goals – just like you did last year. Well, poke fun at your inability to stick it out and you’ll let everyone know you don’t take yourself too seriously, something they might be doing as they ponder how they would like to improve, too.
Sample Happy New Year! I’ve decided to lose weight, quit smoking, negotiate world peace, and stop making unreasonable resolutions this year.
Make a play on New Year’s favorites
There are dozens of traditions associated with Father time ringing in January 1st and, if you are good at making plays on words, you can generate some laughs with a well-timed twist on a classic. This is a bit tougher to pull off, though, as sometimes there are other issues that might make it seem as though you are making light of a serious situation. If you have a friend recovering from addiction, it might be unwise to talk about being resolved to have a few cocktails before bed.
Sample Should all acquaintance be forgot…Wait, who did I send this to? Happy New Year, whoever you are!
Use a little bit of misdirection
This is a time-tested part to all jokes – the unexpected. Let’s face it, there’s some irony to the fact that you’ve just received a message that says, “I care enough to wish you Happy New Year, but not enough to personalize what I send.” How can you turn the tables on them with your reply? Well, it might seem somewhat harsh but, if you do it right, making them feel special and then bringing them back to earth will make them smile every time.
Sample Happy New Year to one of my favorite people! (It’s the person next to you. Could you tell them for me?)
HEATHROW BALANCES THE STRIKE CHAOS WITH EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT
The public sector strike, that threatened London’s travel routes, especially airports, with prospective chaos and gridlock, witnessed efficient management on airport authorities’ part through better services.
The strike was threatening to affect all the travel routes and especially Heathrow, was expecting delay and postponement of the flights, but the travelers were not just comfortable but happier at the special facilities and conveniences that they received in the expected time of crisis.
After a span of almost 30 years, a huge mass protest, witnessed workers of public sector, like teachers, hospital staff, and border officials, showing placards and their opinions against the increasing recession, affecting people’s pensions also. This strike made airport authorities to believe that they would face an almost 12 hours delay in flights and would have to fly with only half filled flights, to evade chaos. But the passengers were contented with the arrangements on the airport and spoke in favor of Heathrow terminals.
A 42 year old passenger, Debbie Arnell said, that the passport control seemed to be having more staff than usual, on the aforesaid day. She included that the airport authorities were also giving free drinks and fruits, which is not a usual routine, as if “they have over compensated”. Another passenger, 45 year old Richard Bunkham, agreed with Debbie’s assessment, and said, that the queues at passport control were almost negligible, which was implicitly, “better than usual”.
Though the airport authorities had something additional to say as well. The Heathrow and Gatwick airport claimed that though the services were almost unaffected by the day’s strike, there were a few inbound transatlantic cancellations to the Heathrow airport, early in the morning, and they are still expecting a chaos or disturbance in the day, later. Both Gatwick and Heathrow recorded timely departures and arrivals of their carriers.
Contrary to Heathrow’s normal routines, the North East England, faced difficult situations as, the RMT transport union reported that due to strike, they witnessed “a total shutdown of key transport services”. Some major roads and bridges were also jammed, like A167 Tyne Bridge.
The Eurostar, a high speed tunnel train service, informed their Paris and Brussels’ passengers to reach their departing destinations before time to avoid delays. But most of the UK airlines were problem free, as the Luton, Bedfordshire and Stansted airports functioned normally and reports from Manchester airport also informed no cancellations.