Shortfinals – aviation and more!

By: shortfinals

Dec 31 2010

Tags: 1907, 1942, 1943, 60 seconds, arts and cultural festival, Auckland, ball drop, basket, blue spruce, Boston, Christmas decorations, dark brown wreaths, dazzling display of fireworks, decorations, Eastern Time, evergreen wreath, firework displays, fireworks, First Night, half-way up the pole, Happy New Year, ivy, major city, major country, major TV event, many millions, March, myriad patterns, New England, New Year Celebrations, New York, New Zealand, one billion, one million spectators, One Times Square, plaid, plaid bow, public attraction, SUV, table decoration, Times Square, TV, TV coverage, Twelfth Night, variegated ivy, wartime years, Waterford Crystal, Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball

Category: New England, New York, United States

1 Comment

There are still a few  more hours to go (here at least) but 2010 is coming to a close. The Christmas decorations are with us until Twelfth Night, of course – a custom that I would not break. However, I would urge all those who have bought an evergreen wreath for their front door, or even your SUV, to remove them at the proper time. Each year I see dank, dark brown wreaths still hanging around as late as March! The table decoration you can see is one that I found most enjoyable; a basket filled with blue spruce, pine, variegated ivy and other evergreens, and topped with pine cones and a plaid bow. Pretty and fragrant at the same time.

The old year is winding down, already we have seen TV coverage of the New Year Celebrations from other countries around the world – Auckland in New Zealand being the first major city to put on a dazzling display of fireworks. In a few hours, the ‘First Night’ arts and cultural festival in Boston will reach a climax, but the major televised event which signifies the start of the New Year to many is the ‘ball drop’ in Times Square, New York. Millions gather to watch the Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball (its official name), illuminated in myriad patterns, slide slowly down its pole, taking 60 seconds to reach the bottom. The watching worldwide audience will number over a billion. Except for the wartime years of 1942 and 1943, there has been a ‘ball drop’ in Times Square since 1907; some have been plain, some fancy, but all have been watched in awe and anticipation. Since January 2009, the Times Square ball has been on permanent display (half-way up the pole) at One Times Square, and is a public attraction of some note.

 At the stroke of midnight (Eastern Time, of course) millions will turn to each other and express their hope that they all will have a happy and healthy New Year. This, indeed, is what I would wish for each and every one of you.

Happy New Year!