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Archive for the ‘New Year’ Category

Chinese New Year is a Lunar New Year, which doesn’t come on a fixed day or date, like the general New Year, which is celebrated around the world. Infact, depending on the position of the moon, it keeps changing its arrival, and come somewhere between last week of January to first week of February. The occasion is the Spring Festival, when the people of China, or any country or place having similar traditions, celebrate the arrival of flowery spring and bid adieu to the cold winters. This year, it starts from 23^rd of January to 2^nd February, and the mainland China observes a public holiday of 7 days.

To explore the real charm, fun and authenticity of the festival, you must take a visit to one of the Chinese cities or those regions around the world, which celebrate the Chinese New Year because of their huge Chinese population and traditions. So take a trip to these popular places during the season, and provide yourself an amazing time.

• Beijing

The main capital city of China, is a colorful and lively place during the festive days. Here you can see, families celebrating in unity, having delicious meals, decorating their houses and distributing gifts. In Beijing, one of the best things to observe during festivities, is the grand Temple Fair, where people gather together to share the joy of the spring. You can also enjoy the various other spring carnivals, tea culture displays in the markets, acrobatic shows, Peking Opera, and many traditional events, which gives a very delightful and ethnic charm of the country.

• Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a very important administrative hub of China, which celebrates the New Year with as much fervor as any other Chinese district or area. The magnificent firework display at the Victoria Harbor is the best part of the festival, while the night flower markets and New Year parades entertain you to the core. The various attractions like performances, dragon dance, lion dance and so on can be experienced in the parades. You can also enjoy a horse racing show in Hong Kong, while shopping and praying would also be a part of the festivities. A Hong Kong trip during Chinese New Year will give you a very traditional glance at the country.

• Singapore

In south east Asia, Singapore also, you can have a blast during Chinese New Year. The cultural values and traditions of the country is quite similar to China, while many Chinese people also live in Singapore, which makes it a hot spot during the festive season. The main Chinatown area of Singapore arranges for a whole festive street bazaar, and many activities , like the lion dance, make the entertainment promising. Singapore also organize the popular Chingay Parade, which is full of Chinese traditions and performances. If you plan to visit Singapore for the Chinese New Year, you may get lucky and see the Fire Party, and traveling dance competition, like last year’s celebration.

• Mauritius

Though Mauritius doesn’t have a very huge Chinese population, the Lunar New Year celebrations in the country is as grand as any other place. The country observes a public holiday during this time and you will see exquisite red and gold decorations in the houses during the festival. Port Louis beach is the main spot to enjoy the New Year celebrations, where you can see many grand activities, including the dragon dance. Mauritius also celebrates the day with traditional cuisine like honey cakes, fish salad, prawns etc and illuminate the houses with lanterns on the concluding day of the entire festival, known as The Lantern Festival.

• Sydney

Besides the main Chinese lands and similar cultures, the Lunar New Year is celebrated in some parts of US and UK also, though Sydney, the capital city of Australia, organizes a grand ball during the occasion, for its huge Chinese population. Every aspect of the festival, including the street market, food stalls, Chinese opera performances, dragon dance and boat races, and parades showcasing Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean dances, all can be enjoyed in Sydney, during Chinese New Year.

Any of these places can be an ideal travel destination during this vibrant festival, where you can enjoy something unique and cherish the memories for a lifetime.

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 114^th 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 3^rd to 12^th, 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 30^th 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 31^st 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 31^st, 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 31^st 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 31^st 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 31^st 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 2^nd of December and continues till 2^nd 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 31^st of December.

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.

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.

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!

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 1^st 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?)