Top 10 Places or Countries That Miss Christmas Season

Despite the fact that most of us celebrate Chrismas with all of its pleasures and gift, there are some places that do miss all of the Christmas spirit of Santa Claus and his reindeer. The thing is that they are either prohibited to celebrate it or do not have it as a public holiday. See the list of the sadest countries during the Christmas holidays.

1.Japan

Certainly in Tokyo you find a giant robotic Santa, but most likely he will only hint at the classic Christmas in this country. Holiday connected with the infant Jesus, there does not exist as the country is not Christian. But the Japanese love to have fun twisted it in his own way, actually turning it into a … Valentine’s Day!.Just imagine a Valentine Santa. Doesn’t it sound funny.
The most popular sweet for  December 24 becomes a huge cake that every self-respecting man presents the woman he loves. Lovers must go to a restaurant, and children are not left alone but rather with gifts received- toys and candy. It is also considered fashionable to rent a room in an expensive hotel and spend a romantic night over there.
In addition, the bustle of the shops give Japanese a custom to give gifts to each other at the end of the year. To do so, even there is a special industry: in the store it is enough to reach the shelf, where we can find presents laid of various amounts, so you choose the one that is of your desired sum and content, to fill in a form with the recipient’s address and pay for purchases at the checkout. The rest will be done by the  store: putting the gift in a beautiful paper, making a card and delivering to the recepient.

2.Saudi Arabia

If you like the  story of Grinch who stole Christmas, and always wanted to ban the celebration, go to Saudi Arabia as its one of the best places to do so. In the most conservative Muslim country of the world the birth of baby Jesus is not celebrated, and sometimes persecute those who try to do it. The religious police periodically withdraws from stores thematic holidays greeting cards, and customs at the airport – Christmas ornaments. It sounds so aweful, isn’t it?
The denial of any other religions in the country comes to the point that even aircraft are prohibited from flying over Mecca. For the simple reason that the shadow of the liner has a cross shape and fell to Kabbah, can defile it, so this sounds to be such a pity for the Christian popularity of the country which is a minority.

3.Algeria

Well, the flag of the country which has a moon and a star on it speaks up of itself.Those who want quiet Christmas meet in Algeria, do not pursue, but in the country, 99% of which adhere to Islam, this holiday is celebrated not accepted and some of it may still seem like an insult to Islam. For example, when a couple of years ago, reindeer, harnessed to a sleigh, carrying a Santa Claus, suddenly appeared on the main street of the Algerian capital, some passers-by a desire to pounce on the masks with his fists. Although the alleged eyewitnesses, in recent years in the country have become very popular Christmas cookies, and the only Christian in the parish of the country, even spend the festive liturgy. But other signs of Christmas here to search is not worth it and it’s better not to organize something as it might be very dangerous.

4.Iran

Despite the fact that the Iranian streets still are caught indecently dressed women, and along with the men who dared to something to stand out from the crowd, religious taboos in the country is not as strong as it is expected to be. In some places  they even arrange  “Christmas” sales, well of course the store managers explain it with the fact of the end of the year.
Typical picture is a showcase of expensive clothes shores, where there are mannequins in traditional hijab, but right next to it is a hug amount of  sparkling Christmas tree lights. Perhaps this is due to the fact that it was from Persia, two thousand years ago, that 3 Wisemen came to welcome the birth of blessed son, and therefore completely ignoring the holiday does not work.

5.Thailand

Once in Thailand, you are likely to simply forget that this is the time for Christmas, and at the same time  New Year. It is difficult to think about the Christmas trea and Santa Claus, when the temperature is increasing on the  street up to  30 degrees, and instead of snowing outside the window sparkles warm emerald sea.
Of course, the hotels always organize a special dinner, but if you go to the city, it turns out that it lives the usual bustling about Christmas and nobody thinks about it. However, Thais are not always averse  of celebrating, even the public holidays here are 14, almost twice as much as in some of the countries. So, for example, the local schoosl may be visited by elephants, dressed in red and white caps, and make a presentation to the distribution of gifts. And in Bangkok, you can admire the Santa made of condoms, which is not the first year to be presented next to the entrance of one of the restaurants as a symbol of the fight against AIDS.

6.Nepal

If the tourist part of India at Christmas is  all shining with  the glittering garlands, and the windows are  decorated with small Christmas trees, then in neighboring Nepal on a holiday  there’s nothing to remind anyone about the Christmas spirit present here  except of the date on your mobile phone. At 12 o’clock at night in the city will be  as dark and quiet as nowhere else in the world, and local residents will sleep, not even knowing that in many countries at this time the street lights are burning and there is a flowing crowd of many thousands of people. The country inhabitants even travel to the neighboring countries to take part in glamorous parties of the Christmas.

7.Turkey

As in many Muslim countries, Turkey is not widely spread custom to meet Christmas, but Turks are rather religiously tolerant. The country is hosting a lot of Christian population to meet Christmas in some of their resort places.  There are many cases where the first Muslim neighbors graciously accept from Christian neighbors Easter eggs, and then those same neighbors are Christians happily eat rahat delight at the Diabetes Day, which marks the end of Ramadan.
But, according to recent studies of Turkish scholars, the tradition of prank up the tree just came from ancestors of the Turks. True, they decked it on 22 December, the winter solstice, which is esteemed by them as a “feast of rebirth. A Christmas tree is, in turn, was considered a “tree of life”.

8.North Korea

It also happens that the policy is stronger than religion and everything that is happening in that country is all controlled by the police. For example, in North Korea the only person to celebrate Christmas is the great secrecy, because the only permissible holidays are gone birthday of Kim Il Sung and now Kim Jong Il’s ruling.  So you just cannot have any kind of parties for that day to be associated with any kind of Christmas traditions.Yes, and calendar here is not on the birth of Christ, but from the birth of Kim Il Sung. However, the chance to get a tourist in Korea is very small. And this year the country is, in principle, closed its borders from November to mid January.

9.China

Christmas in China is not officially celebrated, but the tradition to decorate anything and everything on the eve of the festival has established itself here as a presentation of the year.  Though even the New Year celebrated here is different from the one celebrated in Western countries. Even palm trees  are getting decorated and waiters of the  restaurants and shops sellers often put on the red and white caps. What is surprising, because in that country is more than half of Christmas toys for the whole world. And of course, such an abundance, combined with a love of Chinese to bright colors, could not affect the local traditions.

10.Any tropical island

And you can just rent any suitable tropical island or visit one of them if the financial afford allow you to do so. Proposals, launched with about 10 000 dollars per week are good enough. Oh, this is the place where Santa Claus with his reindeer, presents and other Christmas tinsel just does not get to.

• Reference/Source: travelvivi.com by by L.K.

Top 10 Spots for New Year's Eve

This New Year's Eve, one doesn't have to be the loneliest number. When the clock strikes midnight, crowds will gather in cities around the world to celebrate the arrival of 1-1-11 in a wild variety of international traditions. Forget about waiting for the ball to drop in New York's Times Square. With the list we've compiled, you can sing folk songs around the bonfires of Reykjavik, rave the night away on the beaches of Goa, ensure good luck by eating grapes in Barcelona and watch fireworks in magnificent settings that include Table Mountain, Niagara Falls and the Austrian Alps.

UNITED STATES

Nevada
Las Vegas
Bacchanalia in the Desert
www.vegas.com/newyears
www.vegasexperience.com

Reinforcing its status as a perennial party town, Las Vegas welcomes 300,000 revelers to ring in the New Year. Hotels, clubs and bars take it to the limit with special shows, but many lock their doors around the midnight hours, so you'll need to decide whether you want to be in or out. We recommend out, since the four-mile-long Strip becomes a vehicle-free promenade where you can drink, mingle and watch fireworks shot off from surrounding rooftops. Meanwhile, downtown, Fremont Street presents its raucous TributePalooza with bands including Fan Halen and Led Zepagain. And if you're looking for the real thing, Jay-Z and Coldplay are scheduled to headline (onstage together) at the new Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. We hear that it's invitation only, so hurry up and find a celebrity BFF to get you on the list.

UNITED STATES

Georgia
Savannah
Southern Comfort at the Stroke of Midnight
www.savannahvisit.com

The South may be known for its genteel hospitality, but when the time is right, Southerners love to kick up their heels. In Savannah, that time is December 31, when locals gather for City Market's annual outdoor street party. Kids' activities are aplenty, and the live music that starts at nine is followed by a fireworks display shot off the pier on neighboring Tybee Island. While there's nothing wrong with being a landlubber, we suggest booking a cruise on a traditional stern wheel riverboat for dinner, Champagne toasts and the best fireworks views. Then on January 1, spend the noon hour watching participants with titles from Shrimp to Moby Dick (depending on how many years they've taken part) brave chilly river waters during the Polar Bear Plunge.

CANADA

Niagara Falls
Barreling into the New Year
www.niagaraparks.com
www.niagarafallstourism.com
www.wfol.com

Long gone are the days when the most exciting thing to do at Niagara Falls was keep your eyes peeled for a daredevil plummeting over the cascades in a barrel. The falls are now the site of one of the biggest outdoor New Year's Eve parties in Canada. More than 30,000 people gather in Queen Victoria Park to eat, drink and enjoy the free New Year's Eve Concert Extravaganza, organized by the Niagara Parks Commission. Festivities take place against the stunning backdrop of Niagara Falls, which is illuminated as part of the 28th annual Winter Festival of Lights, a November 6 to January 31 display of more than three million lights on a five-kilometer route. Brightening the night even further, the 9 p.m. and midnight Fireworks over the Falls are so much a part of the country's New Year's Eve tradition that they are televised nationwide.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Prague
Do It Yourself Fireworks
www.pragueexperience.com

With a free-for-all of hand-held fireworks competing with an official midnight display over Prague Castle and the Vltava River, Prague is rightly known for its wild New Year's Eve. But this is a city that has something for everyone. All day long the Christmas Markets are still in full swing, as colorful wooden huts sell handicrafts, hot food and warm drinks in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. Culture lovers can take in the afternoon performance of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Rudolfinum and then attend the New Year's Eve gala ball at the Prague State Opera. As for those who like their festivities on the rowdy side, the action is in the bars, clubs, and prime fireworks viewing spots: Charles Bridge and the town squares. For crowd-controlled celebrations, dinner cruises ply the Vltava River with music and dancing into the wee hours.

AUSTRIA

Kitzbühel
Heating up the Slopes
www.kitzbuehel.com

For New Year's Eve in a quaint fairy tale setting, Kitzbühel is our top pick. This 9th-century town has been attracting glamorous revelers ever since Kirk Douglas and Coco Chanel put it on the see-and-be-seen map. A romantic mood takes over as the clock ticks toward midnight, with restaurants and hotels hosting gala dinners and horse-drawn sleighs jingling past medieval houses on traffic-free, cobblestone streets. The big draw, though, takes place on the Hahnenkamm race course. Drinking hot wine and singing folk songs, crowds gather at the base to watch members of the Rote Teufel ski school. Beneath a fireworks display (one of the best in the Alps) choreographed to music, the skiers welcome the New Year with an unforgettable torch-lit performance on the slopes.

ICELAND

Reykjavik
Cold Temperatures, Hot Nightlife

In Iceland, New Year's Eve traditions offer the chance to brighten up one of the darkest days of the year. With little more than four hours of daylight and sunset before 4 p.m. on December 31, the celebration starts early, beginning with 6 p.m. mass at Reykjavik Cathedral. Locals attend or listen in on the radio, then share a meal with family and friends before heading outdoors for neighborhood bonfires. Visitors wandering the city may easily come across one of these flame-fueled gatherings, where drinking, folk songs and even elves and trolls are not uncommon. While all of this may seem somewhat sedate, don't underestimate a country where there are no restrictions on the holiday sale of fireworks. As for Icelanders wielding firecrackers, they're not the only complement to Reykjavik's official, spectacular pyrotechnics display. Sometimes the Northern Lights get in on the act as well.

SOUTH AFRICA

Cape Town
Wild along the Waterfront

In Cape Town, summertime means surf, suntans and a hot-and-happening New Year's Eve. The entire area is famous for its music events, from the Kirstenbosch Gardens New Year's Eve Concert to the multi-genre Rezonance New Year's Eve Festival offering the ultimate trance and chillout experience. But as midnight nears, most people head for the Victoria & Albert Waterfront. Lively with bars and restaurants year-round, this former fishing terminal brings 2010 to a close against the magnificent backdrop of Table Mountain, as street performers and live music lead up to midnight fireworks over the city. Make sure to save some energy for New Year's Day, since many locals consider this the real celebration. Dating back to the 19th century, the Minstrel Carnival features more than 10,000 costumed musicians, singers and dancers parading in the streets, giving New Orleans and Rio a run for their money.

 

 

 

 

SCOTLAND

EdinburghLiving High on the Hogmanay
www.edinburghshogmanay.org

Dust off your tartan and raise a glass of single malt. It's time for New Year's Eve in Edinburgh. Billed as the biggest New Year's Eve festival in the world, five-day Hogmanay kicks off with the Hog the Stage new band competition and a torchlight parade whose river of fire winds through the city. As for the midnight hour, the choices are many. Hit the live music, DJs and outdoor bars at the massive Street Party. Attend Concert in the Gardens, where headliners Biffy Clyro and The Charlatans will rock out pre- and post-midnight against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Or tackle tradition by learning folk dancing at the popular Keilidh. No matter which venue you choose, when the clock strikes the magic hour you will be in view of fireworks launched from numerous sites including the castle. Afterward, be prepared for the kissathon that accompanies the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."

SPAIN

Barcelona
Fare Thee Well, Old Night

A marketing ploy by grape growers following freak weather conditions and a bumper harvest in the early 20th century, "eating of grapes" is now a beloved Nochevieja (Old Night) tradition. When the clock strikes midnight, you must eat one grape per chime, with each grape signifying good luck for the twelve months of the upcoming year. Before this take place, Barcelona locals dressed in bright costumes take to the streets and main plazas, and after the midnight fireworks have exploded, the real party starts in the city's bars, where music, dancing, tapas and sparkling cava wine keep the festivities going until dawn. If you manage to stay awake that long, head to the beach for a breakfast of hot chocolate and churros as the sun rises.

INDIA

Goa
Stark Raving Mad under the Stars

Gaining notoriety as a turn-on-tune-in-drop-out hippie paradise in the 1960s, Goa seems to use New Year's Eve to keep its free-living reputation alive. Backpackers flock here for psychedelic trance raves in the open air — insiders tell us "The Hill Top" is the place to be. This Indian state is also a favorite destination for Bollywood stars, whose New Year's Eve antics throughout Goa serve up plenty of fodder for the tabloids. As for the locals, they generally keep to their own traditions with New Year's balls in nearly every brightly decorated village. If you're lucky, you might be invited to share a glass of fenny, a regional brew made from guava, coconut or cashew nuts.

 

| Reference/Source: gayot.com