A trip to the local discount store over the week confirmed things: Christmas has arrived. The Halloween candy was marked down to free, and scavengers had already stripped the shelves of the remaining discount pet costumes. We’re kind of ready for the holiday season, as we’ve accepted that it now officially begins on November 1. Now that we understand things, we're eager to get tickets for the National Christmas Tree Lighting.

This week is your only opportunity to enter for a chance to witness the lighting of the huge tree in Washington, DC. If you miss out this week, you’re going to need some good luck or have your Congressperson on speed dial. The ticket lottery opens up this Wednesday at midnight and runs through 11:59 pm on Friday evening. Almost 10,000 free tickets will be distributed, but remember to some bring good shoes, as 7,000 of the tickets will be standing room only. ]]> kjb 2009-11-02T12:14:20-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2009/1/6/122025/6190

Happy Three Kings Day! Spanish-speaking countries all over the world celebrate the appearance of the Magi at the manger today, and nowhere is the party bigger than in Mexico City, which baked an 22,000-pound cake for the event.

The Rosca de Reyes, a sweet bread studded with candied fruit, measures nearly a mile long and contains 1,400 plastic babies akin to those found in King Cakes for Mardi Gras. (But you don't want to find this baby because then you have to throw a party for all your friends on February 2.)

Catch up with the festivities in Mexico City now by heading down the Paseo de la Reforma to the Monumento a la Revolución, a Porfirio Diaz-era structure where the Tres Reyes party moved in 2005 from the Parque Alameda Central. The parade, a relatively new addition to the celebration (dating back to just 2007) looks a lot like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, except for the dudes on camel-, elephant- and horseback. They're the kings of course.

Related Stories:
· Massive 11-Tonne Bread Readied for Traditional Mexico Party [AFP, via Yahoo!]
· Three Kings Ride Through Mexico City for First Time [EFE]
· Mexico City Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Remi.B]]]> egw 2009-01-06T15:30:44-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/24/125712/53

You can't keep a good Santa down! Specifically, a Chinese city's giant sculpture of Santa, well on its way to being built this year despite ever-warming temperatures.

Despite the city of Harbin's proximity to Siberia, the region has been affected by the global (temperature) meltdown: For its annual ice festival, including the 78-foot-tall Santa, officials were forced to make snow just like a ski resort. CO2 trouble notwithstanding, this bad boy is going up to the delight of the 800,000 estimated visitors when the fest opens January 5.

Related Stories:
· Harbin Ice Festival Sweats Under Global Warming [Lost Weekend]
· Let it Snow: China Builds "World's Largest" Ice Santa [Reuters, via Yahoo!]
· Santa Isn't The Only One Who Digs The North Pole [Jaunted]

[Photo of a Harbin Santa in 2004: dennisyee] ]]> egw 2008-12-26T09:45:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/24/94327/233

In a moment of weakness, we were convinced to check out the Norad Santa Tracker. And you know what? Despite our suspicions that it'd be super cheesy, it managed to bring some geographic jolly to our Christmas Eve.

Santa, it seems, really does get everywhere, stopping off at places we know and love, like Sydney, Australia and Kobe, Japan, while also bringing presents to kids in spots we've never even heard of. An extra stocking stuffer goes out to anyone who's heard of Onekotan, Russia before today.

To celebrate Santa's globe wandering, we're taking the rest of the day off and hunkering down with eggnog and presents tomorrow. But we'll be back in full force on Friday to swap holiday horror stories and continue our hats-in-airports obsession. See you then, and merry Christmas!

Related Stories:
· Norad Santa Tracker [Official Site]
· Christmas coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-12-24T13:00:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/24/124743/20

In honor of the holiday spirit, NBC, it seems, has blocked off a great photo spot in Rockefeller Center, rendering your attempts at capturing a snapshot not featuring 87 other tourists utterly hopeless. If you really want a good photo, you'll be stuck buying one at the NBC Experience Store, reports NewYorkology.

But as Peter Greenberg, who happens to work in Rock Center, points out, the tree is up until January 9, when you'll be able to get all the photos you want after Christmas crowds have died down. It's hardly the same to go see the Norway spruce after the holidays, but if you have to have the perfect photo, 2009 is your chance.

If you'd rather skip the scrum entirely for something a bit more classy, HotelChatter has word on the fancy-pants Christmas decor over at The Plaza.

Related Stories:
· Rock Center Blocks off Primo Picture Spot [NewYorkology]
· Christmas in The Plaza's Lobby [HC]
· Rockefeller Center Tree Arrives In NYC [Jaunted]

[Photo: J Gutierrez]]]> pbb 2008-12-24T13:00:36-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/22/13325/158

Ho ho no! Blue 1--a Finnish budget airline affiliated to SAS Airlines and not to be confused with Romania's Blue Air French-based Blue Line--has made a bunch of British kids really blue this Christmas.

The airline should have carried 160 people in two small planes from Manchester to Santa's home in Finnish Lapland early on Saturday morning, but the passengers were then told there'd be a delay while Blue found a new aircraft. The bigger one they got was then deemed too big to land at Finland's Enontekio airport in bad weather and the whole trip was canceled.

Police had to be called to calm down the screaming children, and angry parents had to explain to their kids that they hadn't been good enough to meet Santa this year after all.

Related Stories:
· Police called after angry parents protest at cancellation of flight to see Santa in Lapland [Daily Mail UK]
· Fury as Santa Trip is Sleighed [SMH]
· Will the Real Santa Please Stand Up? [Jaunted]

[Photo: (stephan)] ]]> amandak 2008-12-23T09:00:37-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/12/12/74749/304

Everyone knows that Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree has a trademark on the holiday season, but this week we’re ferreting out spruces and firs that might be even better.

We’ve traveled to major cities around this globe this week in search of the biggest and best Christmas trees, but we return to the US for a triumvirate of tall trees. Where better to celebrate the holiday season than the land of excess--Los Angeles. Of course, shopping is a major draw in SoCal, so it’s no surprise that the area’s malls have a little competition going on.]]> kjb 2008-12-12T14:30:29-05:00 34.0729430 -118.35645 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/