New Year's Celebrations around the world 2011

New Year's Celebrations around the world

Residents enjoy fireworks during New Year's celebrations at Malaysia's landmark Patronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on Jan. 1, 2011. New Year's revellers around the planet welcomed 2011 in a blaze of fireworks and parties, temporarily banishing the misery of extreme weather which has struck countries across the world.

Revellers wave during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong's Times Square, Saturday Jan. 1, 2011.

Tens of thousands of people attend the first Count Down Party for the New Year 2011 at Opera House Square, Ha Noi, Vietnam, Jan. 1.

Fireworks explode over the skyline of Kuala Lumpur during the New Year's celebrations, Jan. 1.

Revellers pose for pictures during the countdown to welcome the New Year in Hong Kong, Dec. 31.

People release balloons as the Tokyo Tower is illuminated to celebrate New Year at a countdown event at the Zojo-ji Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Jan. 1.

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show to celebrate the New Year, January 1, 2011. Local authorities planned for over 1.5 million people to crowd the Sydney Harbor shore and welcome in the new year under the massive fireworks display.

Fireworks explode near the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House during a pyrotechnic show three hours before the New Year, Dec. 31. The eight minute fireworks display was aimed at families with children who will not be awake for the traditional massive fireworks midnight display.

The sky above tall Sydney city buildings light up with the 9 p.m. fireworks display on the new year's eve in Australia, Dec. 31. Enthusiastic Australians camped out at parks alongside the Sydney Harbor Bridge to win the best view of the spectacular New Year's Eve fireworks kicking off celebrations around the world.

Balinese dancer performs during a parade to celebrate New Year's Eve on a main road in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Dec. 31.

People dressed as the Russian Santa Claus, Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), left, and his companion Snegurochka (Snow Maiden), right, take part a New Year's Eve parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Dec. 31. New Year, which was the biggest informal holiday of the year in the former Soviet Union, is also very popular in predominantly Muslim Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan.

One of the thousands of participants walks through the streets of Hillbrow during the Annual City of Johannesburg Carnival, South Africa, Dec. 31. The floats in the carnival reflect the city and its diversity.

Kyrgyz and Russian girls wearing Santa Claus costumes take part a New Year's Eve parade in the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek, Dec. 31.

Dozens of people enjoy a cold bath at the Miracle Beach during New Year's Eve celebration in Tarragona, northeastern Spain, Dec. 31.

A man has his head shaved with the design to celebrate the new year in Karad, India, Dec. 31.

Women throw water and foam to pedestrians, from an office building in Montevideo's old district, Dec. 31. Ripped pages from calendars and water from buckets or in balloons are typically launched from office windows in this neighborhood to celebrate the end of year.

Students sit in a formation during New Year celebrations outside their school in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, Dec. 31.

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THINGS TO DO AT CHRISTMAS IN LONDON 2010

Christmas in London is wonderful.  There’s the chaos of Christmas shopping and the festive fun of Christmas parties and events – and the tranquility of Christmas Day and Boxing Day when you can walk (and drive) around without drowning in shoppers.  But of course that soon ends when the New Year sales kick in!! This site covers all the best things to do at during your London Christmas.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN LONDON

Christmas in London is a magical time and made more so by some of the best Christmas lights in the world. Most of them switch on in the middle of November and we recommend checking out Bond Street, Marylebone High Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street, and Covent Garden – and at the same time of course you can do your London Christmas shopping.  Possibly the most famous lights on a single store are at Harrods in Knightsbridge.

The Elizabeth Street lights in Belgravia switch on with Amanda Holden on 23rd November from 6-7pm.

THINGS TO DO AT CHRISTMAS IN LONDON 2010

Don’t forget to visit our pages on Christmas entertainment and Christmas markets for more fun things to do at Christmas in London!

 5K Santa Run – Sunday 5th December 2010 (10am) in Greenwich Park, London.  1000s of entrants, and a free Santa suit if you run!

* Serpentine Swimming – join the morning swim in Hyde Park’s Serpentine on Christmas Day – or just go along to wonder at the insanity of London at Christmas…

* A Taste of Christmas 2010 – London’s ExCeL from 3rd-5th December 2010. A boutique food market, the hottest new products, the biggest name chefs and over a dozen of London’s starriest restaurants.

* The Great Christmas Pudding Race – Held on Saturday, 4th December 2010 at 11.30am, teams will run a relay race in London’s Covent Garden Market carrying a pudding on a tray whilst negotiating a number of obstacles along the way.

* ‘London at Christmas’ Walks  – 1st December 2010 at 7pm and on every subsequent Monday, Wednesday and Saturday throughout December, (except Christmas Day and 27.12.10.) Walks start from Trafalgar Square.

* The Enchanted Christmas House – 27th and 28th November and from 1st – 24th December.  Created for children aged 1 to 12, the tour includes amazing Christmas characters, the Garden of Winter Wonder, baking in The Gingerbread Kitchen, and meeting Santa Claus.

* Zippos Christmas Circus – Zippos have created a bespoke Christmas Circus for Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park from 19th November 2010 – 3rd January 2011.

* Santas On The Run – Walk or run through Kensington Gardens for charity on November 29th 2008… dressed as Santa.  They provide the costume! One of the many great things to do at Christmas in London.

* Crisis Christmas – need 6,500 volunteers to help their Christmas centres. Based in London, from 23 – 30 December, it supports over 2000 homeless and vulnerable people.

* Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony

Thursday 3rd December 2009 – Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain’s support for Norway during World War II.

* Christmas Brewery Tour

Tour of Sambrooks Brewery in Battersea, London – followed by beer and cheese tasting as well as a buffet meal. Booking enquiries call 0800 68 99 100.

* Erith Christmas Tree Festival

10th December 2010 – 12th December 2010.  80 real Christmas Trees sponsored by local groups, societies, businesses, and individuals decorate the grade 2 listed building in Erith, South East London.

SANTAS GROTTO – CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

Some of the biggest shopping stores have a Santa’s Grotto to help make Christmas in London really special for children.  Your kids can meet Santa Claus (aka Father Christmas) himself, let him know what they want for Christmas and get a small present to keep them happy in the meantime.

* Selfridges – Santas Christmas Grotto

* Harrods – Santa’s Grotto in London’s most famous store

* Hamleys – Santa roams the store at Christmas

* Westfield London – Santa’s Wish Kingdom

Lots to do at Xmas in London!

CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH AND DINNER IN LONDON

We seriously recommend abandoning the kitchen on Christmas Day and eating in one of London’s great restaurants.  You absolutely have to book for Christmas Day, and of course many restaurants are closed.

Here are a few suggestions – all places offering a Christmas lunch – and don’t forget if you get stuck that most hotels offer a festive turkey lunch because they have guests!

* Brasserie Chez Gerard – Christmas lunch from £50 per head.  Many London locations

* Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington – Christmas lunch from £100 per head in Kensington. West London.

* Brown’s Hotel – Christmas lunch from £220…! Central London.

* Brasserie Roux – Xmas day lunch from £90. Central London (located in the Sofitel St James)

* Holiday Inn, Kensington – Christmas lunch from £45.

* Altitude London – Christmas lunch from £150

* The Langham, London – Christmas Lunch from £190 per person in the heart of the West End.

CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Visit our friends at Getting Personal for all your Christmas stocking filler presents – great Christmas gift ideas for kids, teenagers and mums and dads!

TRIVIA: CHRISTMAS IN LONDON

Following a victory at the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror, the then Duke of Normandy, was crowned King of England in the newly finished Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1066.

The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is usually a Norwegian spruce over 20 metres high and 50-60 years old. It is selected from the forests surrounding Oslo with great care several months, even years, in advance. The Norwegian foresters who look after it describe it fondly as ‘the queen of the forest’.

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