Around-the-world Christmas and New Year celebration: A South Korean holiday by photos

South Korea is splendid and bustling with amazing display of lights especially in the capital city, Seoul. The lights are all over the city centre including the bridges over Han River.

Source: http://static.hothdwallpaper.net/51b721d1d801e37199.jpg

Many visitors are attracted by a South Korean style of celebrating the festive season because this is the only East Asian country that regards Christmas as a national holiday, considering around 30% of the population is Christian.

Source: http://evedyahu.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/christmas-korea.jpg

Streets and trees are beautifully decorated. Busy street scenes become even busier this time of the year as for non-Christian Koreans, Christmas is a popular shopping day.

Source: http://24.media.tumblr.com/c38f4f7b808917b90df44d20dc820b44/tumblr_mxc8eq2PXM1qkyzm3o1_1280.jpg

Winter signals a forthcoming new year. Families gather in the traditional hanbok to honour the past four generations of ancestors with food and drinks offered on a ritual table called a charye sang on New Year’s Day.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXd86BM8J8Hszva0kBaolfOKYos4IuFRSt-ZLLrAY1ieeQsxkJ0J7HZVBc7tGaA1qxUkFykLkPme_TzR8igmKQy1RvGOF0LkwAs3gBsXSgXvl0-EioUTTp-B5zFEyWLNM9WYHY-tza/s1600/20090127-korea-new-year-sebae1.jpg

Grandpa Santa is popular with kids in Korea (Santa Harabujee) and he wears either a red or blue Santa suit. Kids know him as a happy grandfather figure who gives out presents. Stores employ Santas to greet shoppers, hand out chocolate and sweets.

Source: http://m.cdn.blog.hu/ot/otakusound/image/images/santa-korea.jpg

Some families celebrate Christmas with meals and gatherings at homes, but Koreans also celebrate Christmas by going out. Restaurants are busy on Christmas, as it is considered a romantic holiday for couples, and theme parks and shows have special Christmas events, such as the photo below at Lotte World Christmas Festival.

Source: http://tong.visitkorea.or.kr/cms/resource_etc/51/299951_image2_1.jpg?&name=image2&index=1

Around-the-world Christmas celebration: The Hong Kong New Year Fireworks and Countdown celebration

The Hong Kong New Year Fireworks and Countdown celebration is one of the most promising events throughout the year in this ‘Pearl of the Orient’ island.

Albeit the incomparability to the 20-minute spectacular fireworks in Chinese New Year or Independence Day, these New Year ones turn Hong Kong’s night skies into a blaze of light and glittering colour. The fireworks were set off from several buildings and skyscrapers in the island with countdown happening at the International Finance Centre (IFC), an integrated commercial building complex in Hong Kong, throughout a four-minute lighting display.

Source: http://www.hdtimelapse.net/content/HDtimelapse.net_City/HDtimelapse.net_City_0239_hirez.jpg

The Fireworks and Countdown Celebration 2013 has been the most magnificent in history. This event is sponsored by the New World Development Corporation with the theme “New Year New World”. Last year, it was organised at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre instead of the IFC as usual. Having been initiated from skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour, the pyromusical last for eight minutes, the longest in history with the widest vision.

The Fireworks and Countdown Celebration 2014 is similarly planned as past years. In addition, there will be a “Shooting Stars” highlight beginning an hour before the countdown. Dashes of light will be

When

The fireworks display will start at midnight of 31/12/2013. Countdown will begin 60 seconds before midnight. Visitors are encouraged to early as possible to reserve the best viewing area.

Source: http://www.theblogismine.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/New-Year-Fireworks-Around-The-World-08.jpg

Where

The New Year Fireworks and Countdown Celebration is regarded as a not-to-missed event showcasing the glamour of Victoria Harbour and the famous skyline of Hong Kong. Therefore, a few suggestions below may help you identify a nice viewing area:

1. 1. Kowloon Island: Along the Tsim Sha Tsui cape, in between the Avenue of Stars and Hong Kong Cultural Centre
2. 2. Hong Kong Island: New Central Harbourfront
3. 3. Golden Bauhinia Square
4. 4. Victoria Harbour: Enjoy an evening cruise on the Harbour whilst indulging yourself in the fireworks display