A taste of Germany in Denver, USA
October 15, 2006
Travellers grabbing a flight to Denver this Christmas will be able to experience some 500-year-old European culture at the annual Christkindl Market.
Now in its seventh year, the market runs from November 24th to December 22nd at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center and embraces the holiday spirit normally found in Germany by offering visitors a plethora of gifts, food, drink and entertainment to choose from.
Eager shoppers will enjoy hunting through traditional handcrafted goods for the perfect Christmas present, while those in the mood for food will revel in the wide range of German snacks and beverages available for consumption.
Visitors who are happy to simply watch the proceedings will be able to marvel at the Nuremburg Christkindle’s (or ‘Christ child’) first Denver appearance, as well as the various demonstrations of crafts such as glassblowing.
Performers from near and far will also be at the market to entertain the young and old, making for an extremely lively event for all the family.
Related Links > Denver Christkindl Market
Grasp some grapes in Madrid, Spain
October 15, 2006
Spend New Year’s Eve in style and fly to Madrid, Spain for the city’s traditional new year celebrations.
Crowds of locals and visitors alike gather in Puerta del Sol Square and the surrounding squares and town halls for one big party that is watched on television by families across Spain. The revelries include celebrity appearances, musical performances, big-screen videos and more, as well as a continuous flow of champagne and traditional snacks.
As the clock begins to strike midnight, each reveller attempts to eat one grape for each of the 12 chimes, as legend has it that those who manage to do so experience 12 prosperous months during the new year.
At midnight, a dazzling fireworks display is enjoyed by all and, afterwards, the celebrations continue well into night, with parties springing up across streets, bars and clubs throughout Madrid.
Related Links > Spanish tourist board website
How to wish Merry Christmas in other languages
October 15, 2006
It smells like Christmas Spirit!
Here’s how to wish Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in other languages!
Afrikaans Geseënde Kersfees en ‘n gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian Gëzuar Krishtlindjet e Vitin e Ri
Arabic اجمل التهاني بمناسبة الميلاد
و حلول السنة الجديدة
Azeri Tezze iliniz yahsi olsun
Basque Zorionak eta urte berri on
Breton Nedeleg laouen ha bloavezh mat
Bulgarian Честита Коледа! Щастлива Нова Година
Byelorussian З Новым годам i Калядамi
Catalan Bon Nadal i feliç any nou
Chinese (Cantonese) 聖誕節同新年快樂
Chinese (Mandarin) 聖誕節和新年快樂 [圣诞节和新年快乐]
Comanche Tsaa Nu̶u̶sukatu̶̲ Waa Himaru̶Tsaa
Cornish Nadelik lowen ha blydhen nowydh da
Croatian Sretan Božic i uspješna Nova godina
Czech Veselé vánoce a šťastný nový rok
Danish Glædelig jul og godt nytår
Dutch Prettige Kerstdagen en een gelukkig nieuw jaar
Esperanto Bonan Kristnaskon kaj feliĉan novan jaron
Estonian Häid Jõule ja õnnelikku uut aastat
Faroese Gledhilig Jol og eydnurikt nyggjar
Finnish Hyvää joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta
Flemish Zalig kerstfeest en gelukkig Nieuwjaar
Frisian Noflike Krystdagen en in protte Lok en Seine yn it Nije Jier
French Joyeux Noël et bonne année
Gaelic (Irish) Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit
Gaelic (Manx) Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Gaelic (Scottish) Nollaig chridheil agus bliadhna mhath ùr
Galician Bo Nadal e próspero aninovo
German Frohe Weihnachten und ein frohes neues Jahr
Greek Καλά Χριστούγεννα και Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Ετος
Greenlandic Juullimi ukiortaasamilu pilluaritsi
Hausa Barka da Kirsimatikuma barka da sabuwar shekara
Hebrew חג מולד שמח ושנה טובה
Hindi क्रिसमस और नव वर्ष मंगलमय हो
Hungarian Kellemes karácsonyt és boldog új évet
Icelandic Gleðileg jól og farsælt komandi ár
Ilocano - Naimbag a Pascua ken Naragsac nga Baro nga Tawen!
Indonesian Selamat hari Natal
Italian Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo
Japanese クリスマスと新年おめでとうございます
Jèrriais Bouan Noué et Bouanne Année
Judeo-Spanish / Ladino Noel alegre i felis anyo muevo
Kazakh Жаратканнын туысы жене Жана Жылыныз кутты болсын
Kirghiz Жаратканнын туысымен Жана Жылыныз кутты болсын
Korean 메리 크리스마스 새해 복 많이 받으세요
Kurdish (Kurmanji) Kirîsmes u ser sala we pîroz be
Kurdish (Sorani) Kirîsmes u salî nwêtan lê pîroz bê
Latin Natale hilare et annum faustum
Latvian priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu
Low Saxon - Heughliche Winachten un ‘n moi Nijaar
Maltese Il-Milied u s-sena t-tabja
Maori Meri Kirihimete Ka puta a Matariki, ka rere a Whanui, ko te tohu o te tau
Monogasque - Festusu Natale e Bona ana noeva
Manx Nollick ghennal as blein vie noa
Norwegian God jul og godt nyttår (Bokmål)
God jol og godt nyttår (Nynorsk)
Oriya Sukhamaya christmass ebang khusibhara naba barsa
Persian/Farsi كرسمس مبارک
سال نو مبارک
Polish Wesołych Świąt i szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese Feliz Natal e próspero ano novo
Punjabi ਕਰਿਸਮ ਤੇ ਨਵਾੰ ਸਾਲ ਖੁਸ਼ਿਯਾੰਵਾਲਾ ਹੋਵੇ
Quenya Alassëa Hristomerendë! Alassëa Vinyarië!
Romanian Crăciun fericit şi un an nou fericit
Russian С Рождеством Христовым и С наступающим Новым Годом
Serbian (Orthodox) Христос Се Родии Сређна Нова Година
Serbian (Non-Orthodox) Срђан Божиђ и Сређна Нова Година
Sicilian Bon Natali e filici annu novu
Sindarin Mereth Veren e-Doled Eruion! Garo Idhrinn Eden Veren!
Slavomacedonian срекан Божик и Нова година
Slovak Veselé vianoce a šťastný nový rok
Slovenian Vesel Božič in srečno novo leto
Somali Ciid wanaagsan iyo sanad cusub oo fiican
Spanish ¡Feliz Navidad y próspero año nuevo!
Swedish God jul och gott nytt år
Tagalog Maligayang Pasko at manigong bagong taon
Thai เมอรี่คริสต์มาส และสวัสดีปีใหม่
Turkish Yeni yılınızı kutlar, sağlık ve başarılar dileriz
Ukranian Bеселого Різдва і з Новим Роком
Urdu نايا سال مبارک هو
Uzbek Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese Chúc Giáng Sinh Vui Vẻ và Chúc Năm Mới Tốt Lành
Welsh Nadolig llawen a blwyddyn newydd dda
Xhosa Siniqwenelela Ikrisimesi EmnandI Nonyaka Omtsha Ozele Iintsikelelo
Zulu Sinifesela Ukhisimusi Omuhle Nonyaka Omusha OnempumeleloUseful Links
Voice recording of some of these languages
http://www.holidays.net/christmas/voices.htm
Top 12 Christmas ‘dream toys’
October 15, 2006
The most hotly-tipped ‘dream toys’ for this Christmas were unveiled today.
Film and TV shows have made their mark on this year’s wish-lists for both boys and girls.
And hi-tech gadgets rub shoulders with more traditional board games and dolls in the Toy Retailer Association’s predicted top toys for Christmas.
A Dr Who Cyberman Mask and the interactive toy car Fast Talkin’ McQueen, inspired by the hit movie Cars, will be hot favourites with boys this year.
Hollywood movies Pirates Of The Caribbean and Star Wars have also made their mark, inspiring the Isla Cruces playset and a Transformer toy set.
The girls’ top 12 list includes a Disney Princess chair, and a Let’s Dance Barbie, based on the sixth Barbie movie, will add a new twist to the long-standing favourite doll.
Pre-schools will prefer toys inspired by Bob The Builder and Thomas The Tank Engine.
Their top 12 also includes the V Smile Baby game, an interactive toy for children as young as nine months.
For older children, the list includes Hasbro’s Trivial Pursuits 90s and the electronic board game of Deal Or No Deal.
Toy Retailers Association (TRA) chairman Gary Sadler said: ‘We are currently seeing a resurgence in licensed toys, which combine fun and playability with the familiarity of popular characters.’
The TRA’s independent predictions are based on retailers’ opinions, items requested by shoppers and the latest trends in new products.
Palace of delights in Vienna, Austria
October 15, 2006
Holidaymakers looking for a truly traditional festive market should get on a flight to Vienna, Austria for the annual Schonbrunn Christmas Market.
This market is held in the grounds of a palace that has origins going back to the middle age and has been rebuilt, added to and refurbished numerous times over the centuries.
Schonbrunn Palace hosts its Christmas market from November 18th to December 26th and sees more than 60 vendors to sell their wares to thousands of visitors every year. These items include handmade gifts and decorations, as well as traditional Austrian festive food, such as cakes, biscuits and hot punch.
The atmosphere is a lively one at this Vienna market, with a varied programme of entertainment including carols, gospels and more being carried out by choirs and brass bands from across Austria.
Children are extensively catered for, with young ones able to enjoy cookie-baking sessions, a festive train ride and a visit from Santa Claus, among other events.
Related Links > Schonbrunn Christmas Market website
Spectacular festive fun in New York
October 15, 2006
Holidaymakers flying to New York this winter will be able to witness one of the most popular festive shows in the US in the form of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
This event runs from November 9th to December 30th and features a range of musical and dance performance from the likes of Santa Claus, the Rockettes and the Living Nativity, among others.
The Rockettes are a 150-strong chorus line of dancing girls, who traditionally perform the same songs at every show, but have recently added some new high-kick antics to their set.
Another popular act is the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers, which features a smartly-attired troupe of performers marching, and falling, in perfect time.
More than one million people travel to New York for this fun-filled show, placing it alongside other favourite yuletide events such as The Nutcracker for Americans and overseas travellers alike.
Related Links > Radio City Music Hall website
Light up the new year in Singapore
October 15, 2006
Holidaymakers who love a good party should join the Chinese New Year celebrations at the Light-Up festival in Singapore.
The festival stretches across January and February and sees the streets of Chinatown decorated with a plethora of lights and displays to mark the beginning of the lunar new year.
With 2007 designated as the year of the pig, expect to see the animal given visual prominence in many of the celebrations, which include the Chingay parade, which consists of a huge procession of colourful floats, bands and performers, as well as the traditional dance of the lion and dragon.
Visitors to Singapore will also be able to enjoy a special street bazaar selling a range of traditional festive foods, jewellery and souvenirs, while on the outskirts of Chinatown, shoppers can also peruse and buy flowers and plants that are used in Chinese new year celebrations.
At night, revellers watch a number of cultural performances in Kreta Ayer Square and on the eve of the first day of the new year, a massive street party counts down to a spectacular fireworks display.
Related Links > Singapore’s Chinese new year website
