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How To Get Tickets To Witness The National Christmas Tree Lighting

November 2, 2009 at 12:14 PM | by | Comments (0)

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.

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Mexico City Will Eat Cake, 22,000 Pounds Of It

January 6, 2009 at 3:30 PM | by | Comments (0)

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]

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Ice Santa 1, Global Warming 0

Where: Harbin, China
December 26, 2008 at 9:45 AM | by | Comments (0)

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]

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Super World Traveler Santa Impresses Even Us

December 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

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]

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Rockefeller Center Acting A Scrooge

Where: Rockefeller Center [map], New York, NY, United States
December 24, 2008 at 1:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

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]

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Le Blue Line Keeps Santa For Themselves

December 23, 2008 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (6)

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)]

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Tall Trees Tower In SoCal

Where: 189 The Grove Dr. [map], Los Angeles, CA, United States, 90036
December 12, 2008 at 2:30 PM | by | Comments (0)

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.

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HotelChatter Would Totally Get Naked On Your Magazine Cover

December 11, 2008 at 4:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

Our sis site HotelChatter does a bang-up job of covering the latest news and trends in the hotel world. Check in and stay awhile.

· Are Resort Fees Really That Bad?

· NYC's Cooper Square Hotel Is Finally Open

· Pictured: The Five Best Hotels Near Rockefeller Center

· Andre Balazs Gets the Charles Ogilvie Treatment

· 50 Cent: Less Stylish than London's May Fair Hotel

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Two Trees In Tokyo

Where: Tokyo, Japan
December 11, 2008 at 11:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

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.

Japan is a country that goes all out when it comes to celebrations, and the Christmas season is no exception. This year, Tokyo is the country’s seasonal ambassador, as there's a lot of holiday cheer all over the place.

The Tokyo Tower is celebrating its 50th birthday and as a result it will be showered in over 100,000 lights. Of course there’s a tree too--and it's a good one--reaching almost 40 feet into the sky and sporting 30,000 lights and ornaments.

If the weather outside turns frightful, head inside to the Marunouchi Building. It’s easy to find: Follow 850,000 LED lights down Marunouchi Nakadori Street. Once inside the building you’ll be greeted with a 25-foot tree that's decorated from head to toe. But there's another draw, too: Some of Santa’s more attractive elves will be on hand to take your picture to prove to your friends that Japan really does do Christmas right.

Related Stories:
· Where to View Christmas Lights in and around Tokyo [Japan Times]
· Christmas coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: w00kie]

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Sydney Celebrates A Down Under Christmas

Where: Martin Pl, Sydney, NSW, Australia
December 10, 2008 at 1:20 PM | by | Comments (0)

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.

If you’re looking to spend your Christmas somewhere a little warmer this year, there’s always Australia. The city of Sydney is dressed up in elaborate holiday projections with everything from giant presents to a gingerbread house on the side of Town Hall.

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Another Asian Destination Convincing Us It's Christmassy

December 10, 2008 at 9:35 AM | by | Comments (0)

And next on our list of unlikely places to spend Christmas … after you've soaked up the Christmas soul of Seoul you can move on to Hong Kong. They're putting on their annual Winterfest that's meant to encourage us all to spend the Christmas season spending Hong Kong dollars in all their great shopping malls.

Well, that's not exactly what they're saying. The Hong Kong Tourism Board wants us to see their ten-story high Christmas tree and perhaps best of all, get into the Christmas carol singing. Spread across various parts of Hong Kong, it sounds like you won't be able to turn around without tripping over a carol singer and they'll also be on open-air buses, trams and trucks.

Do you ever get the feeling these tourist boards might just be conning us by hyping the Christmas spirit of their city? Whatever. We're suckers for a good bit of Christmas spirit so we'll sing along if a Hong Kong caroler comes close.

Related Stories:
· Hong Kong Winterfest [Official Site]
· Seoul Says Celebrate Here [Jaunted]
· Hong Kong Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Gerald Garcia]

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Cross The Pond For Friendship

Where: Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom, WC2N 5DY
December 9, 2008 at 12:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

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.

Yesterday we were driving around Long Island looking for big Christmas trees, and today we’re off to another island--although this time we’ll be driving on the other side of the road.

London officially kicked off their holiday season recently as they illuminated their Trafalgar Square Christmas tree for the 61st time. It’s a tradition that started following World War II, and each year they decorate a tree sent over from Norway--a gift from the country to thank England for their assistance in the war.

This year’s tree is more than 100 feet tall and is said to be about 90 years old. It was welcomed by carolers signing classic tunes as well a few snazzy ditties by a Norwegian gospel choir. However, if you’re looking for thousands of lights, this is not going to be your favorite tree: It's decorated with only 500 bulbs running vertically from the tree’s top. Like it or not, that's the traditional Norwegian way to do things.

The tree will be lit every afternoon and will remain that way until midnight. From now until the big day, plan for seasonal performances in the square each evening to further the holiday spirit. After January 5 the tree will be taken down and will be mulched--circle of life, right?

Related Stories:
·Trafalgar Square [Official Site]
·Christmas Comes to Trafalgar Square [London Informer]
·Christmas coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Vibin]

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