December 2, 2008
Some Interesting Christmas Trees / QE2 retires to Dubai
Well, it is the beginning of December, so I don’t feel it’s too early to be turning on the Christmas lights, as many towns and cities are doing this week. The celebrations at Rockefeller Plaza in New York take place on December 3rd; and the other famous tree, the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in Washington DC will be turned on on December 4th. Apparently this event is so popular that you need advance tickets for it, and will feature a variety of music including some swing, Latin and Motown. How about a couple of Christmas carols?
The lights on Europe’s most famous tree, the huge Christmas tree in London’s Trafalgar Square will be switched on on December 4th, in a ceremony that is one of the highlights of the London Christmas season.
If you are heading to southern California, you can see one of the country’s most unusual Christmas trees. The tree at Legoland is made entirely out of Lego and features a lighting ceremony each night from now until Christmas Eve. And elsewhere in California, there are some unusual Christmas traditions in Los Angeles, as this article shows, including watching other people’s holiday slides and going to visit the so-called Scientology Santa.
Have you seen the movie “A Christmas Story” which is usually shown on American TV several times during the season? It’s an enjoyable story, set in the 1940s about a boy called Ralphie Parker, who is determined to get something called a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. The film has become a sort of cult holiday classic, along with “It’s a Wonderful Life” and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
The house in Cleveland where the movie was filmed has become quite a tourist attraction apparently. If you are heading for Cleveland, the house is open for tours (all year) and across the street is a museum dedicated to the film and featuring such intriguing props as Randy’s snowsuit.
And if you are lucky enough to be spending Christmas in Dubai, you can pay a visit to one of the most famous ocean liners in the world. Britain’s QE2 retired there last week to become a floating hotel moored off an artificial palm shaped island.
Any other strange or unusual Christmas traditions or festivities out there?
Guest entry by Mancunian
Posted by James Trotta at December 2, 2008 2:01 PM | TrackBack
Here's a link to the latest in Christmas bling
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/3541432/Worlds-most-expensive-Christmas-tree-on-display.html
I understand there are miniatures for sale somewhere, if anyone is interested!
Last year, I enjoyed christmas party at hotel HYATT in VANCOUER. One of my friend had a company party and I was invited. I saw a lot of small trees in lobby. That was small but very cute. How about small trees in this christmas?