New Year is the time at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner. The New Year of the Gregorian calendar, today mostly in use, falls on 1 January (New Year's Day), as was the case both in the old Roman calendar (at least after about 713 BCE) and in the Julian calendar that succeeded it. The order of months was January to December in the Old Roman calendar during the reign of King Numa Pompilius in about 700 BCE, according to Plutarch and Macrobius, and has been in continuous use since that time. Many countries, such as the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the United States, mark 1 January as a national holiday.

During the Middle Ages in western Europe, while the Julian calendar was still in use, authorities moved New Year's Day variously, depending upon locale, to one of several other days, among them: 1 March, 25 March, Easter, 1 September, and 25 December. These New Year's Day changes generally reverted to using January 1 before or during the various local adoptions of the Gregorian calendar, beginning in 1582. The change from March 25 – Lady Day, one of the four quarter days – to January 1 took place in Scotland in 1600, before the ascension of James VI of Scotland to the throne of England in 1603 and well before the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. In England and Wales (and in all British dominions, including Britain's American colonies), 1751 began on March 25 and lasted 282 days, and 1752 began on January 1. For more information about the changeover from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar and the effect on the dating of historical events etc., see Old Style and New Style dates.

A great many other calendars have seen use historically in different parts of the world; some such calendars count years numerically, while others do not. The expansion of Western culture during recent centuries has seen such widespread official adoption of the Gregorian calendar that its recognition and that of January 1 as the New Year has become virtually global. (Note for example the New Year celebrations held in Dubai to mark the start of 2014, which broke the world record for the most fireworks set off in a single display, lasting for six minutes and including the use of over 500,000 fireworks.)

Nevertheless, regional or local use of other calendars persists, along with the cultural and religious practices that accompany them. Many places (such as Israel, China, and India) also celebrate New Year at the times determined by these other calendars. In Latin America the observation of traditions belonging to various native cultures continues according to their own calendars, despite the domination of recently arrived cultures. The most common dates of modern New Year's celebrations are listed below, ordered and grouped by their alignment relative to the Gregorian calendar.

Las posadas

Las Posadas is a nine-days celebration with origins in Spain, now celebrated chiefly in Mexico, and portions of the Southwestern United States, beginning December 16 and ending December 24.

Posada is Spanish for "lodging", or "accommodation"; it is said in plural because it is celebrated more than one day in that period. The nine-day, novena represents the nine months of pregnancy, specifically the pregnancy of Mary carrying Jesus.

But in different places people celebrates them different, check this examples:

In Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco the Vallarta Botanical Gardens hosts a Las Posadas celebration on December 20. During workshops in the daytime, participants make their own nativity scenes with local natural materials including Spanish moss. In the evening, carolers proceed to nativities that are placed among important plants including poinsettias and native Mexican pines. A bonfire and more singing rounds out the celebrations.

· In Wisconsin, the procession may occur within a home, rather than outside, because of the weather.

· An event in Portland, Oregon terminates with Santa Claus and donated Christmas gifts for needy children.

· In New York, worshippers may drink  Atole, a corn-sugar drink traditional during Christmas.

· A large procession occurs along the San Antonio River Walk and has been held since 1966

What is almost near…? No, it is not Christmas kids. The national Christmas Swaeter Day!

On December  18^th! Oh yes… Friday! So, don’t worry about what to wear, just put on a horrible and old ugly sweater. The National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is about proudly sporting your favorite ugly Christmas sweater for the entire day...regardless of circumstances. Wear it to school, to work, to a funeral, to your sister's wedding. Everywhere.

I also will use one. (Maybe…)

So, don’t forget, use the most ugly, old and horrible sweater you can find.

See u!

The events depicted in Star Wars media take place in a fictional galaxy. Many species of alien creatures (often humanoid) are depicted. Robotic droids are also commonplace and are generally built to serve their owners. Space travel is common, and many planets in the galaxy are members of a Galactic Republic, later reorganized as the Galactic Empire.

THE STAR WARS EPISODE VII- 2015

Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, marketed simply as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is the upcoming first film of the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams; written by Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan; and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Bad Robot Productions. The film, which is currently in post-production, will be released on December 18, 2015 in North America and December 17 in Mexico, Latin America & Asian countries. Some North American theaters will also offer special limited advance showings on the evening of December 17.

Despite initially claiming that the Star Wars story ended in Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi, and spending years refuting speculation that there would be another film, George Lucas began work on the story of Episode VII in 2011 in order to increase the value of Lucas film Ltd. before he sold it to The Walt Disney Company, although Disney would later elect to not use Lucas's story. The acquisition was finalized on October 30,2012, and Disney and Lucas film officially announced Episode VII the same day.

The Episode VII story will feature the forces of the First Order, an offshoot of the Galactic Empire, aligned against the Resistance, sprung from the Rebel Alliance.The story material will not be based on Star Wars Legends, formerly known as the Expanded Universe, rather, it will be an original story set after Return of the Jedi. The film stars Harrison Ford,Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker reprising their original roles. The original actors are joined by a host of new actors including Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, amongst many others. The film will be presented in RealD 3D and IMAX 3D where available.[13] It will be able to be streamed on Netflix in Canada in 2016.

Letter to Santa and its origins

Whether known as Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Babbo Natale, Christkind, Père Noël, Santa Claus ("Santa") or by many other names, this legendary gift-giver in European folklore and hagiography is well known around the world.

Writing a letter to Santa is among the numerous traditions surrounding Christmas. Although in 1889, Thomas Nast—the caricaturist credited with the modern portrayal of Santa—presented Santa reading letters from the parents of children in "Santa Claus's mail," writing to Santa is as much of a children's ritual as sitting on his lap. The form of "Dear Santa letters" typically include: a testament of "nice" not "naughty" behavior, a wish-list of toys, courteous mention of Mrs. Claus and the elves, and concern for the reindeer (especially Rudolph). One study found that girls’ letters tended to be longer, more polite, and include more requests for clothing or functional items as well as more gifts for other people. Recent research studies on elementary-school children in the U.S. have found that gender-neutral toys are as popular as sex-typed toys among girls and boys.

Children in Poland, Japan, and Great Britain are allegedly the most prolific writers of letters to Santa. While sample letters are on Internet sites that also sell Santa stationery, far more common is the hand-written letter illustrated with Santas, reindeers, sleds, Christmas trees, presents, etc. Japanese children sometimes include pieces of origami with their letters. Addressed to Santa in Toyland, the North Pole, Lapland, the Arctic Circle, the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, and elsewhere in the world, children’s letters are often answered by postal workers and charity volunteers. While children in Canada use a special postal code (H0H 0H0) those in Mexico and other Latin American countries send their letters attached to helium balloons. Since the turn of the 20th century children have also sent their Santa letters to newspapers where they have been reprinted in articles.

Along with other children who live in Ontario, Mary sent her letter to Eaton’s Department store that sponsored an annual Christmas parade. In what ways is the letter 9-year-old Mary wrote to Santa in 1968 consistent with children’s practices and in what ways is it unique? What might account for the differences? In addition to gender differences do children’s letters to Santa differ according to race, class, and region? What larger purposes might this ritual serve for parents and society?

-J.I.R.S.

Santa Letters Are a Centuries Old Tradition

The history behind writing Santa letters is about as mystical as Santa himself. After much research there really is little information as to how the tradition of writing Santa a letter started, but what was found was one single reference to a letter written from a little girl in the 1200's to the real St. Nicholas. In the letter she wrote "St. Nicholas patron of good children, I kneel for you to intercede. Hear my voice through the clouds And this night give me some toys. I want most of all a playhouse with some flowers and little birds. It seems that the tradition of writing to Santa to ask for gifts really didn't take hold until the late 1800's but has been a mainstay in children's and their parents lives ever since.

And as the tradition goes on, little boys and girls continue to sit down with paper and pencil, or crayon, and write to Santa telling him how well they have behaved throughout the year, detailing the good things they have done, and why they deserve to be bestowed with the gifts that they desire.

Create History With A Letter from Santa Claus

Growing up writing letters to Santa is a rite of passage and millions of children have sent letters to Santa each year in hopes of winning the jolly elf over and convincing him they are worthy of the gifts they ask for. Children ask for everything their hearts desire when they are writing to Santa, but the one gift they would never expect in return is a genuine letter from Santa Claus, delivered to their home, and addressed directly to them. For decades parents who also enjoy the magic of Christmas have tried to trick their children into believing that Santa has received their Santa letter and took the time to respond.

Wouldn't the surprise be even greater if your child received an unsolicited letter from Santa, encouraging your child to continue to be the good child Santa knows them to be?

You know first hand how giddy a piece of mail can make a child, now imagine the pure glee that they will feel when they not only get a piece of mail from someone they know, but receive a personalized letter from Santa addressed to them. You can easily multiply their joy a hundred times, and moreover, a Santa letter is not a one time gift that will be tossed to the side. A Santa letter is a gift that they will show to all their friends and family for days, weeks, months, and even years to come.

Did you know that Children in Canada also receive Letters from Santa Claus. While you’re there, why not read: Have you child mail their own letter to Santa? Guess what? Newborns and birthday kids alike would love to receive letters from Santa as well. Also make sure you read: Personalized Santa Letters Brighten The Christmas Holiday.

The Real Santa.
Saint Nicholas of Myra was a 4th-century Greek Christian bishop of Myra (now Demre) inLycia, a province of the Byzantine Empire, now in Turkey. Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor, in particular presenting the three impoverished daughters of a pious Christian with dowries so that they would not have to become prostitutes.[6] He was very religious from an early age and devoted his life entirely to Christianity. In continental Europe (more precisely the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany) he is usually portrayed as a bearded bishop in canonical robes.

The remains of Saint Nicholas are in Italy. In 1087, the Italian city of Bari mounted an expedition to locate the tomb of the Saint. The reliquary of St. Nicholas was conquered by Italian sailors and his relics were taken to Bari[7][8] where they are kept to this day. A basilicawas constructed the same year to store the loot and the area became a pilgrimage site for the devout. Sailors from Bari collected just half of Nicholas' skeleton, leaving all the minor fragments in the grave. These were collected by Venetian sailors during the

First Crusadeand taken to Venice, where a church to St. Nicholas, the patron of sailors, was built on theSan Nicolò al Lido. This tradition was confirmed in two important scientific investigations of the relics in Bari and Venice, which revealed that the relics in the two Italian cities belong to the same skeleton. Saint Nicholas was later claimed as a patron saint of many diverse groups, from archers, sailors, and children to pawnbrokers.[6][9] He is also the patron saint of both Amsterdam and Moscow.[10]

During the Middle Ages, often on the evening before his name day of 6 December, children were bestowed gifts in his honour. This date was earlier than the original day of gifts for the children, which moved in the course of the Reformation and its opposition to the veneration of saints in many countries on the 24 and 25 December. So Saint Nicholas changed to Santa Claus. The custom of gifting of children at Christmas has been propagated by Martin Luther as an alternative to the previous very popular gift custom on St. Nicholas, to focus the interest of the children to Christ instead of the veneration of saints. Martin Luther first suggested the Christkind as the bringer of gifts. But Nicholas remained popular as gifts bearer for the people

Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santy, or simply Santa is a figure with legendary, historical and folkloric origins who, in many Western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children on 24 December, the night before Christmas Day.

The modern figure of Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas, whose name is a dialectal pronunciation of Saint Nicholas, the historical Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra. During the Christianization of Germanic Europe, this figure may have absorbed elements of the god Odin, who was associated with the Germanic pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky.

Santa Claus is generally depicted as a portly, joyous, white-bearded man—sometimes with spectacles—wearing a red coat with white collar and cuffs, white-cuffed red trousers, and black leather belt and boots and who carries a bag full of gifts for children. Images of him rarely have a beard with no moustache. This image became popular in the United States and Canada in the 19th century due to the significant influence of the 1823 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" and of caricaturist and political cartoonist Thomas Nast. This image has been maintained and reinforced through song, radio, television, children's books and films.

Since the 20th century, in an idea popularized by the 1934 song "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", Santa Claus has been believed to make a list of children throughout the world, categorizing them according to their behavior ("naughty" or "nice") and to deliver presents, including toys, and candy to all of the well-behaved children in the world, and sometimes coal to the naughty children, on the single night of Christmas Eve. He accomplishes this feat with the aid of the elves who make the toys in the workshop and the flying reindeer who pull his sleigh. He is commonly portrayed as living at the North Pole and saying "ho ho ho" often.

Last week we were celebrating the traditional festivity where relatives, friends and co workers thank for all the blessing gotten during this year.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving a traditional celebration in the United States and Canada held in these countries on different days: in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November and in Canada on the second Monday in October. Usually in this festival they gather around a family and friends to share a banquet table. Although it is religious in origin is considered a secular holiday.

On Thanksgiving in North America has its origins in a mixture of European and Aboriginal traditions. In Europe, festivals were held before and after harvest cycles to give thanks for a good harvest, and celebrate after hard work along with the rest of the community. Native Americans also celebrated the end of the harvest. When Europeans arrived in what would America for the first time, they brought their own traditions from the continent, celebrating the end of their journey, peace and good harvest. Although the origins of Thanksgiving day are similar in Canada and the United States, Americans tend not to celebrate the contributions made in Plymouth, Massachusetts, while Canadians do not celebrate the contributions on the island of Newfoundland.

In the United States, the modern tradition of Thanksgiving Day has its origins in 1621, at a celebration in Plymouth, in the state of Massachusetts. There is also evidence that Spanish explorers in Texas held celebrations on the continent earlier in 1598, and gratitude parties in the colony of Virginia. The festival was held in 1621 in gratitude for a good harvest. In later years, the tradition continued with civilian leaders such as Governor William Bradford, who planned to celebrate the day and aid in 1623. Since the beginning Plymouth Colony did not have enough food to feed half  the 102 settlers , natives of the Wampanoag tribe helped the Pilgrims giving see  ds and teaching them how to fish.

The place took place the first day of Thanksgiving in the US, and even on the continent, is a subject of constant debate. Writers and teachers Robyn Gioia and Michael Gannon University of Florida have indicated that the first celebration of this day in what is now the United States was conducted by the Spanish on September 8, 1565, in what is now is St. Augustine, Florida.

Also, several historians say the first celebration of Thanksgiving was held in Virginia, not in Plymouth. Thank services were routine in what would become the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1607.      Annually the department store chain Macy's makes a grand parade through the streets of Manhattan, New York, attracting millions to Broadway Avenue to see the huge giant balloons and witness performances by guest artists.