Year: 2015

Christian New Year

Being widely heralded as the establishing norm of New Year the advent of the Julian calendar being established as the global mandate heralds the beginning of the Christian New Year. Here is a look at the Celebrations and Traditions that are associated with the Christian New Year.

History of the Christian New Year

Early calendars like the roman calendars would mark the beginning of the New Year to be with spring most probably around the 15th of March, which nears the time of the equinox. The Julian calendar was then modified due to political reasons and marked 1st of January to be the start of the New Year. The calendar later modified by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and accepted globally, Henceforth the Gregorian calendar became the norm for the assessment of days and the Christian New Year is sometimes referred to as the Gregorian New Year.

Christian New Year Traditions

Traditions can be called the formative structures of any society; they bond people together and infuse in them the spirit of community and togetherness. Some of the traditions that are an inherent part of the Christian New Year are:

  • The New Year Baby: Where the image of the child is synonymous with good luck and rebirth, many Christian homes have the image of the child displayed as a good omen.

  • Singing of songs on New Year’s Eve: Popular songs like “Auld Lang Syne” which translates to the “Good Old Days” is sung in households to infuse the celebratory spirit in the members of the household.

  • New Year Resolutions: Which are a set of things that you list out, that you would want to exercise and accomplish in the year to come, the idea is to start the year with positive energy

  • New Year Feasts: Since it is believed that the year is determined by what you consume on the first day of the year, elaborate meals are prepared that symbolize abundance and plenty.

Christian New Year Celebrations

Celebrations are an intrinsic part of any occasion that is deemed to be special, the Christian New Year means a lot to the community and is an indelible part of the society. Like any other festival the occasion is celebrated with great cheer and merrymaking. Communities come together for New Year Parades etc., which is a fun filled show of grand scales, celebrating the past year and the advent of the new one. People sit together partying, wearing their best clothes, celebrating New Year’s Eve and wish each other as the clock strikes 12 ‘o’ clock, which officially ushers in the New Year.

With a visit to the church on the first day of the year the rest of the time is spent with family and friends is feasting, partying, picnics etc.

Hence the Christian New year is the time of festivities and cheer, being thankful for the good graces of the past year and a hope that the coming year would only add to the happiness that the previous year brought with it.

Celtic New Year

The Celtic (Irish) New Year or the traditional feast of Samhain is celebrated on the 1st of November every year and is perhaps one of the most important Celtic feasts. The Celts were a great believer of the cycle of death and rebirth; hence their year was divided into two parts; light and dark.



Samhain literally translates to “ the end of summer” and ushers the winter season, as after the dark night, a bright day begins, in a similar manner after the dead of the winter comes the blooming harvest Spring/Summer season, hence Samhain celebrates new beginnings.

Historical Roots of the Celtic New Year

The Celts strongly believed that Samhain was essentially a gap in time and in much conjunction with popular Halloween beliefs which falls on the eve of Samhain, it was the night time when the two parallel worlds of the dead and the living could come together in conjunction. The Celts hence believed that Samhain was the time when the dead could come into the living world, and be a part of the world, their homes that they had left behind.

Celtic New Year Traditions

 

    • The Celts were great believers of mysticism and divination; hence an important aspect of the Celtic New Year is the acceptance and welcoming of the ancestors into the households.

 

    • Hazelnuts would be used as a part of the ritual, as they symbolized the wisdom of fortune telling.

 

    • Some other popular Samhain rituals included references to the Emhain Abhlach which means the Paradise of Apples, as the Celts believed that Emhain Abhlach was the place where the dead achieved immortality by the consumption of apples which were considered to be a sacred fruit.

 

    • The custom of appeasing the spirits of the ancestors can be found in many religions and cultural communities around the world, the Celts are no exception to this; traditional Samhain customs demand that adequate respect and homage be paid to ancestral spirits. In order to appease the ancestors, food and drinks would be prepared for them and the doors of the house were left open, for them to pass by.

 

    • It was also believed that not all spirits were supposed to be benevolent; hence the people would carve the image of guardian spirits into turnips and hang them at their door. This practice has evolved into the common practice of carving pumpkins and making Jack ‘o’ Lanterns out of them on Halloween.

 

Celebrating Celtic New Year’s Eve:

The Celtic New Year’s Eve or Oidche Shamhna is an integral part of the celebrations of the Celtic New Year as it was a symbol of communal togetherness. The harvest that had been gathered would be collected as cattle would be slaughtered for the feats of Samhain. Most communities would organize a form of communal gatherings, and a giant bonfire would be organized with families warming their housed out of hearths that were righted from the giant bonfire. Hence Samhain was the time for families to come together, and celebrate the holidays by dancing and singing of Celtic songs that had been passed through generations.

The Celtic New Year Celebrations

 

Some of the popular traditions that are associated with the Celtic New Year are as follows:

  • A popular tradition is banging the walls and doors of the household with bread, as it is said to drive away the bad luck of the past and fill the house with the good spirits with the hope for the New Year to bring in enough abundance.
  • With the rise of Christianity the Celtic New Year celebration evolved into the Halloween celebrations that we know of today, which is also known as All Saints’ Day and is followed by All Soul’s Day.
  • People dress up in costumes, mostly strange attires and indulge in the activities associated with Halloween celebrations.
  • Some communities have still kept alive the traditional lighting of bonfires and gathering around them dancing and singing songs of the Celtic past.

Vietnamese New Year Flowers

“ Tet” or the Vietnamese New Year is perhaps one of the most important festivals for the Vietnamese. Symbolizing and signifying the advent of spring, the celebrations of Tet are the most spectacular kind as elaborate sets of customs and decorations are all incorporated into the celebration of the Vietnamese New Year.



Generally officiated to be a three days affair, though the celebrations continue for almost a week, the time of Tet is a time of nostalgia and celebrations and no matter what part of the world a Vietnamese might be in, the festival of Tet fills him up with longing to be back home.

Flowers form an integral part of the Vietnamese New Year celebrations, here’s a look at some of the most important flowers that are incorporated in the New Year Decorations by the Vietnamese.

  • Kumquat Tree:

Comparable to what may be called Tangerines, the Kumquat tree is the perfect addition in winter with its bright fruits and flowers. It is generally believed in Vietnamese culture that the Kumquat fruits are a symbol of Fertility and the good luck that the family shall inherit in the coming year.

Hence the selection of the Kumquat tree is quite a careful procedure. , being symbolic of the entire family, the tree is pruned in such a manner that the bright orange fruits are displayed proudly on the occasion of the Lunar New year and the rest of the green fruits can ripen later, which generally symbolizes the promise of good luck in the present and the future.

The concept of family being supreme in Vietnamese culture, the tree too is symbolic of familial ties with the fruits representing the grandparents, the flowers the parents, the buds children and the leaves being symbolic of the grandchildren of the family. Hence a healthy kumquat tree is essential to any Vietnamese New Year Celebration.

  • Peach Blossoms:

Symbolic of the Lunar New Year, peach blossoms are an essential part of the Vietnamese folklore and heritage, said to be the home of the two protector deities, the Peach tree used to be a sacred symbol of protection and security for the people.

Still considered to be an art, the knowledge pertaining to the cultivation of peach trees is passed down from one generation to another and the delicate pink of the Peach Blossoms are a coveted part of any Vietnamese household.

  • Apricot Blossoms:

The importance of the Apricot blossoms in a Vietnamese New Year celebration can be judged by the fact that, if one does not have Apricot blossoms in the household during the Lunar New Year celebrations then that means they have not really prepared for Tet.

Considered to be a symbol of spring and abundance, the yellow and white flowers of the Apricot Blossoms are visible everywhere during the time of Tet. Being considered a symbol of prosperity, the number of petals of the flower is proportional to the amount of luck that the family can garner in the new Year, hence the more the number of petals on an apricot Blossom, the more its value and the more coveted it becomes.

The Vietnamese culture gives much importance to the advent of spring and hence the Lunar New Year. With every family having a different way of celebrating the advent of New Year, flowers and fruits however are most integral to New Year celebrations. Now that you have a fair idea of the important flowers for Vietnamese New Year Celebrations, incorporate them in your decorations and have a lovely time.

New Year Drink Recipes

Looking for that perfect drink that adds the zing to your New Year’s celebrations?



We have the best options for you. Here are some drink recipes that range from the all-time favourites, to new takes on classic mixes, just try these flavourful, savoury mixes and get the party started.

  • Sorbet and Champagne Cocktail:

The traditional champagne cocktail gets a kick with the use of a sorbet of your choice. To prepare the drink all you need is a teaspoon full of sorbet and Champagne or Prosecco

Preparation: Take the teaspoon of Sorbet in a glass and add to it the Champagne, stir well and your simple yet delicious drink is ready.

  • Lychee Martini:

Adding a fruity twist to the regular gin martini this drink is a Party favourite. You will be needing canned lychees, drained syrup and gin.

Preparation: Take two Martini glasses and add to them one whole lychee each. Pour the half a cup of gin and half a cup of drained syrup into a cocktail shaker along with ice, shake well. Serve immediately into the martini glasses for a refreshing taste.

  • Red Currant Champagne Cocktail:

This bright and elegant is a delight to behold and easy to make, all you need is two tablespoons or red currant puree and Champagne.

Preparation: Make sure that both the pure and champagne are perfectly chilled, now all that you need to do is take the puree in the champagne flute and fill the glass with champagne hence, pouring it slowly. Your drink is ready to be served immediately.

  • Berry Little Cocktail:

This delicious blend of juices and liquor is easy on the eyes and smooth on the taste buds. The ingredients that you will need are sugar, a cup of fresh cranberries, one ounce of grapefruit vodka, two ounces of champagne, one ounce of cranberry juice and one ounce of black currant juice or puree.

Preparation: the first step is to take water and sugar in a saucepan over medium heat and stir till the sugar dissolves adding to it the cranberries that should soften in about five minutes. Once the cranberries soften, take the pan off, drain the liquid and placing the cranberries in a baking sheet, place them in a freezer to freeze for at least two hours.

Once the above things are done, you make a blend of Vodka, champagne, cranberry and the black currant juice. Pour the blend into a champagne Flute. Now take a skewer and string at least four to five frozen cranberries together and garnish the drink with it. There you have it your very own Berry little cocktail.

  • Cognac Sparklers:

This smooth mix of cognac and apple cider is perhaps one of the most fuss free combinations that are a treat to taste. All you need is an ounce of cognac and a cup of sparkling apple cider.

Preparation: Take two champagne flutes and pour into them half an ounce of cognac each. Top the drink off with half a cup of sparkling apple cider and garnish the drink with few strands of bitter to add a subtle flavour.

  • Raspberry Choco-Kiss Cocktail:

The mere sound of mint syrup adorning raspberries and laced with liquor starts spelling heaven. To create this delightful cocktail you will need Mint Syrup, crushed chocolate cookies, around 10 raspberries, a quarter vodka, cranberry juice and the ever essential ice.

Preparation: The first step to preparing the drink is to fill a dish with the mint syrup and another with the crushed cookies. Invert a martini glass into the syrup and then the cookie crumble, coating the rim of the glass with the two

In the second step, you place raspberries in the shaker and crush them, adding to them the mint infused syrup crushing it again. Now that this is done, add to the pulp some vodka, cranberry juice and some ice, now the shake the shaker well. Now pour the mix into the coated martini glass and serve chilled immediately

Now that these eclectic mix of delicious drinks have been introduced to you, get to making them and let the celebrations begin.

New Year’s Party Drinks

One of the most popular as well as the biggest party of the year, New Year’s is perhaps most ideal for the best drinks served.



Even though Champagne is normally the chosen drink for the occasion, there are blends of drinks or cocktails that make for an interesting mix as well as provide you the perfect kick that gets you in the celebratory mood. Here is a list of drinks that you should try and celebrate the night away.

  • Happy New Year:

With the normative drink for a New Year’s night being champagne, a drink with a name such as Happy Ney Year would mean that Champagne is definitely the key, but mix it with brandy, port and orange juice and what you have here is a fabulous drink that is like heaven in a glass.

  • Midnight Martini:

Made with a deep coffee profile, the eclectic mix of the coffee and vodka is enough to keep you awake through the night, which is precisely the idea on a New Year Night. A shot of this mixture which has a Van Gogh Espresso twist in it and you should be ready to go.

  • Resolution Martini:

With a perfect balance of dry, sour and sweet, the Revolution Martini is made out of gin, lemon juice and apricot brandy. The drink is absolutely one indulgence that you simply cannot miss out on.

  • Elite Midnight Millionaire:

This luxurious sounding drink is as glamorous as it sounds, though the easiest to make. With a shot of Stoli Elit vodka with silky smoothness and topped off with Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne which is then completed with a lone raspberry inside, just the perfect blend of deliciousness.

  • Twentieth Century Cocktail:

Though the twenty first century be the times today, indulging in this classic drink from the 1900’s is definitely a take on the old is gold adage. We may be well into the twenty first century but that doesn't mean we can't partake in a Twentieth Century Cocktail. This is one of those classics from the beginning of the 1900's and its mix of gin, Lillet Blanc and crme de cacao is quite intriguing and great for any celebration.

  • Midori Melon Ball Drop:

The mix of Citrus Vodka’s fruity flavour and Midori, when laced with hints of elderflower liqueur (St Germain to be precise) produces an eclectic result which can only be equated with the New Year Ball that drops in Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve. So have you bit of Times Square celebration in your mouth as you sip on to this flavourful drink.

  • Good Times:

For the lovers of cocktails, this twist to the classic cocktail is sheer delight. Made with Old Tom Gin and Vermouth, just add a dash of Lemon twist to the shaken and stirred version of Martini and you are bound to “Let the Good Times Roll”.

  • Millennium Cocktail:

This signature drink made with gin, orange juice and cherry brandy as its base flavour has a lot of variations. With some preferring brandy and whisky, whichever Millennium cocktail version be your favourite, be sure to make it a staple in your New Year’s Parties.

  • Leap Year

Even though every year is not a leap year, however this sublimely superb cocktail should become a staple be it a leap year or not. Made of gin, vermouth, Grand Marnier orange liqueur and lemon juice, this zingy cocktail is an absolute delight to taste buds.

Now that you have with you the perfect list of New Year Party drinks, just shake and stir and let the party fever take over.

New Year Cocktails

New Year’s is the perfect time to celebrate and revel like there is no tomorrow. With parties that last all night long as people drink and dance the night away, can never be a bad idea.



So for nights when drinks reign supreme here are some of the best cocktails that are sure to set the party mood going and add to the merriment of the night

  • Honeydew Margarita:

For those who like the fruity zings in cocktails, this is an interesting drink made out of honeydew melons, tequila, triple sec and fresh lime juice, the drink sure to delight your senses, with its fresh taste.

  • Caribbean Tomato Juice Cocktail:

For those who like the tomato tang of a Bloody Mary this drink is sure to delight you as well, made out of Worcestshire sauce, lemon juice, white pepper and sugar, the added garnish of the celery ribs really puts together the flavour cohesively making this drink refreshing for any occasion.

  • Mimosa:

A hot celebrity favourite, Mimosa is made out of champagne, Orange Liqueur and triple sec and garnished with orange rinds. The drink is definitely a crowd pleaser and is sure to get your party mood soaring, only remember the potency of the drink, as slow to build in, it has quite an impact.

  • China White:

To be taken as shots this drink is a real tease for the taste buds and brings a cornucopia of flavours to the palate. Made out of Crme de Cacao, Bailey’s Irish Cream with Cinnamon sprinkled on top, the sheer aroma of the flavourful drink is enough to tantalize you.

  • Peppermint and Mocha Vodka:

Made out of Rumplemize, coupled with whipped vodka, black coffee, whipped cream, hot cocoa and chocolate sprinkles and garnish, this chocolaty drink is the perfect recipe for the nip in the air on a New Year’s night.

  • Cosmopolitan:

This classic classy drink is made out of Vodka, Cointreau, Cranberry juice and a hint of lime juice. Tasty and elegant, its ideal for any New Year’s get together, as it is both flavourful and packs quiet a good punch.

  • Negroni:

If looking for the perfect aperitif Cocktail blend with alcohol and sweet notes then a Negroni is the drink for you. Made out of Gin, Martini Rosso, Campari and garnished with a slice of Orange the drink is tasteful and can even be mellowed down with soda.

  • Manhattan:

Sharing its name with the island city, a Manhattan has a nice ring to it. Made out of Club Whisky, Martini Rosso, Angostura Bitters and garnished with cherries this classic drink is pure delight in a cup that you are sure to savour.

  • Kir Royale:

Made out of Sparkling white wine or champagne, Crme de cassis or Black Currant liqueur, this drink is right on the impact and flavour. Other variations of the drink include replacing the Cassis with Framboise or raspberry liqueur, or making a Pomegranate royale, with the addition of pomegranates.

  • Red Rascal:

A drink that is truly decadent and sure to set your taste buds tingling, you will love this blend of Red wine which is then laced with the fizz of Raspberries. Intended to satisfy both the wine aficionado and fruit lover in you this drink hits all the right notes on the perfect night.

Now that you have a selection of drinks to choose from, get mixing and create the perfect blend for your taste buds, as you celebrate the night away.

Chinese New Year Drinks

With the year of the Snake to begin soon, party arrangements should be made in advance to make your party a smashing hit.



Since it goes without saying how important is it to have the perfect mix of drinks in a party hence we have for you a list of Chinese New year drinks that shall be the best choice for your Chinese themed New Year’s Party.

 

  • Mango Margarita:

This drink with its flavourful and unique mango undertones is perhaps one of the simplest yet the most delicious of drinks which uses minimal ingredients like tequila, mango liqueur and lime juice to give you an interesting mix.

 

  • Red Lotus:

The Red Lotus cocktail blends within it Lychee and Cranberry undertones to give your taste buds a twirl that is sweet and refreshing at the same time. Made out of Lichido liqueur, vodka and cranberry juice, this delicately flavoured drink is sure to become one of your favourites.

 

  • Mango Spice Cocktail:

If there was ever a more brilliant mix of sweet and spice, this combination of Mango nectar, jalapeno, agave nectar, fresh lime, orange bitters and Absolut Mango Vodka would top it. Try the drink at set your taste buds ablaze.

  • Lotus Blossom:

This truly oriental drink is made with an interesting mix of Lychee nuts, lime juice, Grey Goose La Poire Vodka, is an interesting take of regular cocktails and is refreshing in nature.

 

  • Beijing Bellini:

With a fun take of the regular Bellini, this drink was created during the Beijing Summer Olympic games. Replacing the Peach Schnapps that are so regular in the traditional Bellini with Lychee Liqueur, add to the mix champagne or Dry Italian Prosecco and there you have it the ode to the sportsman spirit in style.

 

  • Shandong Mary:

Made with Tsingtao Lager Beer, Tomato juice, vodka, chilli garlic sauce and a hit of lemon, this oriental take on the Bloody Mary is sure to set your senses tingling.

 

  • Litchini:

This delicious blend of Lichido Liqueur which is basically a blend of Cognac, guava and lychee essence along with peach juice, add to it vodka and lime juice, and what you have is a succulently luscious delight in a martini glass. Top this with a lychee used as a garnish and what you have is the perfect blend of sweetness with a kick.

 

  • Ginger Beer Fizz:

For the fans of the beer, this cocktail with a different take is perhaps a home favourite. Made with Tsingtao Pure draft Beer, ginger beer and garnished with slices of ginger, not only will this appeal to your eclectic tastes but is also beneficial medicinally.

 

  • The Slinger:

Developed in the early 1900’s this slightly complex drink is in a league of its own. Made out of fin, lemon juice, sugar syrup, powdered sugar, club soda, Kirsch or cherry brandy and using a lemon slice and maraschino cherry for garnishing in a highball glass, it is a drink that you shall definitely remember.

 

  • Mai Tai:

Literally translating to “Out of this World” the drink lives up to its name. Prepared from light and dark rum, along with lime juice, orange curacao, orgeat syrup and using maraschino cherry for garnish, the drink is perfection in a glass and has a few variants like the Pineapple Mai Tai which has the addition of Pineapple juice, triple sec and grenadine to it.

 

New Year Party Craft Ideas

Planning a New Year’s party can be a hassling affair especially when, you want yours to be different from the numerous celebrations on New Year’s out there. Here are a bunch of craft ideas to get you kick-started and add that little something extra to your celebrations.



Party Popper Craft:

For these decorations who do not only spruce up your party theme, but can also double up as party favours when you fill them up with special treats, you will be needing coloured tissue paper, toilet paper roll, cellophane tape, curling ribbon, small candies or Gifts and scissors. Start out by cutting out 3 pieces of tissue paper in a 12″ x 12″ square form.

You can use different colour to add a dash of brightness and use at least to pieces to make the popper strong. Now stack the layers of tissue paper and put the toilet roll on them, tape one edge and the cover the roll with the tissue papers, so that there is about 3” of tissue paper hanging off each end after covering the roll fully.

Now you have to cut two pieces of the curing ribbon of an approximate length of 20 inches each, having done that now hold together the loose ends of one side tying the ribbon as close to the mouth as you can. Now fill up the roll with treats and once full pinch the open end and tie it too. Now use the edges of a scissor to cut the ribbon and let you imagination go wild, as you can decorate it in any way you like. You party popper is now ready.

Star Bead Champagne/Wine Charms:

These Wine charms add a hint of colour and party flavour to your party as they give a colourful twist to your otherwise plain wine glasses. Materials needed for the craft project are: Star beads (Metallic or Regular), gold beads, thin bending wire, needle nose plier.

Take the wire and string the beads in the following order, 2 gold beads then a star bead, almost three times till you have a proper loop. After this is done bend the wire so that it forms a hook, only do not close it yet. Now put it around the champagne/wine glass and close the hook and just like that you are done.

You can try to use different colours in order to colour co-ordinate the glasses for your guests so that they know which glass is theirs.

Noisemaker Centrepiece:

It is quite easy to make a noise maker centrepiece that not only make an attractive dcor, but also when the clock is about to strike twelve it makes a great celebratory object for your guests to grab and cheer.

Things that will be needed for this craft project are: bowl and candy, floral foam, aluminium foil, Gold and silver pipe cleaners, Noisemakers (party horn blowers), wooden skewers, hologram paper (gold and silver), tape and scissors.

Cut the floral form in order to fit the bowl being used and cover it with aluminium foil. Now twist the ends of the pipe cleaner around the mouth piece of the noisemaker and then attach it to a wooden skewer by twisting the pipe tightly on it. Take a paper and make a star template on it to cut out, trace the template on the hologram pare and cut out stars out of them. Tape the stars to the end of the pipe cleaner, twist them around something like a wide marker and them slip the marker out of the pipe cleaner.

Now all you need to do it to arrange the noise makers and the stars in the floral foam, sinking the skewers securely into the foam. Place the block into the bowl and will with candy, your Noisemaker Centrepiece is now good to go.

New Year’s Craft Ideas for Kids

Sharing a lovely time with children is a chance that no adult likes to miss out on. So here are a few fun craft projects that you can indulge in with children and make the magical time of New Year’s even more memorable for them.



Shakers:

Buy an assortment of strong cardboards paper bowls along with small plates. Now tell the kids to decorate the plates with a host of art materials like (paper scraps, crayons, markers, felt paper, magazine clippings etc.). Stenciling “Happy New Year” on utencils is also a good idea. Now place within the bowls a handful of beans and staple the lid shut of the bowl with a plate. Every time your child shakes it will make sounds, your personalized homemade Shaker is now ready.

Time-Capsule Noise Maker:

Firstly you need to make a shaker in the manner described above, and then try to hide a time capsule inside. You can make the kids draw family pictures, or answer some questions about themselves and also have them include their hopes and dreams for the upcoming year. Place the piece of paper in the noisemaker and then staple it shut. Let the kids play around and make noise when the clock strikes twelve after which you can safely tuck away the noise maker for a few years, and take them out later. This makes up for a good craft activity and a beautiful memory that can be shared later.

 

Rattles:

Since skids love to make some noise here is another craft project that will make them squeal with delight. All you need is two clear plastic cups and then ask the kids to fill one with small things handful of dried beans, rice, clean fish tank gravel, shiny pennies, or colourful beads to make a rattle of their choice. Now place the other glass on top and tape them securely together from rim to rim. You can try putting colourful tape to make them look more attractive, you can try making different patters like stripes and crosses.

Recycling the Holiday Tree:

Since New Year’s and Christmas arrive around the same time, a good idea would be to recycle the Christmas tree and use it as a Mew Year’s tree. As the Christmas spirit wears off and the ornaments that are used for Christmas are taken off the tree, you can let the lights stay. Collect as may odd decorative new year pieces you can find like party hats, paper horns, bows, ribbons, wrapped candy bars with ribbons on top (which should be placed away from the curious eyes of toddlers), and put them on the tree making it look exciting and steeped in the New Year spirit. You can ask kids to contribute too in making ornaments and breathing new life into the celebrations in your household.

The Resolution Box:

The first step to making a resolution box is probably explaining to the children what a resolution really is. Now that you have explained this, things are relatively simpler; all you need is a shoebox, some decorative paper, scrap material etc. Help the kids write down their resolution and sign them with the date when the resolution was made. Add a photo of the child to the box and include within it some party items like confetti, hats, horns etc. Other things that you can add to the box are reminders like, baseball cards, list of goals, a lock of hair etc. that would all be cherished as memorabilia later. You can make this into a tradition, and it also serves as amemorabilia of your children growing up.

Top 10 New Year Destinations in India

New Year’s is the time to celebrate, the future and to bid adieu to the past year that was. As the world celebrates the onset of a new beginning, if your party destination is India here is a list of the Top Ten Places in India which make sure that you spend your New Year’s with great celebratory cheer.



1.  Goa:

Hailed as the place to be in India on New Year’s, Goa gives you the perfect eclectic mix of a nightlife that is filled with music, booze and fun. With a host of great club, exotic cuisine, truly international ambience and fireworks by the beach side, Goa undoubtedly makes your New Year’s a night to remember and cherish forever.

The Beach parties at Vagator and Anjuna is where most of the crowd is headed for the spectacular ambience and perhaps you should join them too.

2.  Mumbai:

With celebrity sightings and a perky party atmosphere, Mumbai too is unparalleled in catering to the New Year cheer, be it sitting at the club and drinking or be it standing by the beach a glass in hand while the rest of the city sky is lit up in fireworks, the cosmopolitan feel of the New Year cheer can be best felt in Mumbai. With most hotels and lounges setting up for the New Year cheer, party scene cannot be anything but spectacular.

3.  Delhi:

For a taste of elite, expensive parties, the country’s capital is the place you should be in for the New Year. With expensive and exclusive night clubs, where you can party till the wee hours of the morning, to farmhouse and mansion parties that are thrown by eclectic billionaires of the city, for rich taste of party life Delhi is the destination you should be headed to. You can taste the feel of the celebrity owned clubs of Delhi which are generally jam packed for the special night.

 

 
4.  Bangalore:

For a fun yet cosy cheer of the party life, Bangalore or Bengaluru as it is now called, should be in your list of New Year Destinations. Even if out with a few friends on a New Year night, the warmth that the people of the city exude will make it sufficient for you to have a great time and feel like you’re an indispensable part of the lovely city.

5.  Kolkata:

Earlier known as the culturally elite city of India, thriving in arts and literature, Kolkata has evolved into a major party destination in recent years. With Nightclubs that will literally have you on your feet all night long, Kolkata is the place to be in, if you are looking to dance the night away free of any inhibitions.

6.  Manali:

If looking for the snowy cheer of winters that is essential for the spirit of a New Year in your opinion then, Manali is the place for you. With the chilly mountain wind blowing in your face and the snow-capped terrain being affronted to you, the parties organized on New Year’s at Manali have a unique earthy flavour enough to fill you with the celebratory spirit. The neighbouring areas like Solang valley famous for the winter sports activities that you can indulge in, make up for an interesting change too.

7.  McLeodGanj:

This quaint little town nestled in the lap of Dharamsala in Himanchal Pradesh, is home to one of the best homely experience that can be offered to you. With the feel of the mountainside as you enjoy an eclectic selection of cuisines, be it Tibetan, Japanese or Italian, if on a budget, a holiday in McLeodGanj is next to paradise. You can sit in the quaint little cafs of the town and enjoy the cosy atmosphere.

8.  Pudducherry:

Formerly known as Pondicherry, the city which is home to austerity as well as extravagance is an experience that is both unique and delightful. With fireworks by the sea and street celebration that carry through the night Pudducherry is one of the most memorable experiences to be a part of on a New Year. The street artists of Pudducherry are renowned for the eclectic varieties of performances that they put up on the occasion

9.  Gulmarg:

If away from the wild city life and loud partying, into the lap of Nature sounds like your idea of a perfect celebration, then Gulmarg can be precisely your slice of heaven. With one of the finest ski resorts in the world, the snowy white goodness of the town is perfect to get you in that happy celebrative mood.

10. Kerala:

For a lovely time with your loved one, Kerala is the place to be; you can rent a houseboat in the Keralan backwaters or enjoy the beach parties that are exotic and enthralling. No matter what be choice of having a good time, Kerala will cater to your needs perfectly and keep the New Year experience magical for you. With places like Varkala that attract a lot of international crowd, the beach side beauty of the place is an ideal New Year destination.

Now that you have a list of the finest New Year destinations in India at your disposal, go out and a have a great time.