New Year’s Eve, the oldest of all holidays, has been celebrated in one form or other since 2000 B.C. The ancient Babylonian celebrations were at the beginning of spring, starting on the first new moon, and lasting for 11 days. It wasn’t until the Romans that the date of the New Year’s Eve celebration moved to December 31st, and it was changed specifically to synchronize their calendar with the sun. Just as in the past, in many countries, New Year’s Eve is celebrated with parties, though they no longer last for days on end, most start sometime on the 31st of December, and continue into the night until the early morning hours of January 1st. Friends and family gather to celebrate the passing of one year into the next with food, drink, festivities and fireworks. Many countries host celebrations on official level to welcome the New Year with grand fireworks displays and open air public parties on large scale and spend millions of dollars arranging the event.
Read the rest of Welcome New Year 2008 »
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Dec 27th, 2007
by Tahira Khan
Christkindlmarkts, literally ‘Christ child market’ in German, are a special holiday tradition in many parts of the world. Originating in Dresden, Germany around 1434, Christkindlmarkts, or Christmas Markets, are where local craftsmen sold their wares in the winter, giving townsfolk something to look forward to besides cold weather. When the tradition began, the markets only lasted a day or two, and unlike today, craftsmen laid their products out on the streets for citizens to peruse, deciding which of the handcrafted items they wanted to purchase, as well as affording the opportunity for villagers to mingle and share laughter, as well as food or drink, while they shopped. The markets were a bright spot in what could be an otherwise dreary winter.
Read the rest of Old World Charm at Christmas: Christkindlmarkts »
Dec 23rd, 2007
by Tahira Khan
One of the most beloved and well known figures for children everywhere, Santa Claus, or Kris Kringle, is depicted as a jolly old man who travels all over the world on Christmas Eve, bringing presents to good girls and boys. Legends abound about how his toys are made, who makes them, who helps, and how he gets around, but where he lives seems to be the one standard in all tales. Of course, what seems to be left out is anything specific about his lifestyle; the North Pole is the answer of where, but how?
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Dec 14th, 2007
by Tahira Khan
One of the most popular tourist locations, Jamaica, is known for Reggae music, lush tropical foliage, and beautiful white beaches. Dunn’s River Falls and Parks lives up to the reputation, even managing to exceed expectations as you explore the beauty of these magnificent waterfalls. Dubbed Las Chorreras, meaning springs or waterfalls by the Spaniards, Dunn’s River Falls travels swiftly down travertine rocks, forming small lagoons along the way, until it eventually flows into the Caribbean Sea.
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Dec 12th, 2007
by Tahira Khan
