Happy New Year 2013

 As per Gregorian calendar, New Year is observed on 01 January.  The celebrations of New Year starts on the eve of 31 December, it is the time when people celebrates last day of the current year and beginning of the New Year.  As soon as clock strikes twelve at the midnight, people cut cakes and burst firecrackers, starts hugging and wishing each other ‘Happy New Year’ to give festive reception to the forthcoming year. 

    

  
Each New Year brings hopes and promises of the year.  People often make New Year’s resolution which includes promises, goals which they want to accomplish in the coming year.  However, people fail to abide by their promises but the significance of adopting New Year Resolution remains the same.

People wear new clothes and clean their homes on the New Year’s Day.  They usually exchange gifts and good wishes among their loved ones.  New Year Gifts comprises of some daily items such as books, pens, dresses, purses etc. or it may incorporate cakes, flowers, chocolates etc.

India Vs Pakistan

BCCI decided to resume Cricket ties with Pakistan by inviting the Pakistan team for a short series.  This series will consist of two Twenty20 International and three One Day International matches.  India Pakistan match will begin on Tuesday i.e. 25 Dec 2012 and will come to an end on Sunday i.e. 06 Jan 2013.

Schedule Of T20I Matches

The first Twenty20 International match between India and Pakistan is scheduled on 25 Dec 2012 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.  This stadium was formerly known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association and was later renamed in tribute to Mr. M. Chinnaswamy, who had served this stadium for four decades and was also the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1977-1980.  The stadium is also the home ground of the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

 
    The second Twenty20 International match schedule has been changed from 27 Dec to 28 Dec 2012 on the request of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as the former Prime Minister of Pakistan was died on 27 Dec 2007. The match is schedule to be played on 28 Dec 2012 at Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahemdabad.  Sardar Patel Stadium is one of the leading Cricket stadiums of India.  It is commonly known as Montera Stadium.  It is the largest stadium in the state of Gujarat.  This stadium was formerly known as Gujarat Stadium and was later renamed in tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister.

Schedule of ODI Matches

The first One Day International match is scheduled on 30 Dec 2012 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.  MA Chidambaram Stadium is a Cricket stadium in Chennai, commonly known as Chepuk.  It was established in 1916.  This stadium is where the Indian Cricket Team won its first ever test victory in 1952 against England.  This stadium is also the home ground of the Indian Premier League franchise Chennai Super Kings which participate in and won the Indian Premier League two times.

    The second One Day International match is schedule to be played on 03 Jan 2013 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.  Eden Garden is the largest Cricket stadium in India and third largest stadium in world after Melbourne Cricket Ground and ANZ Stadium in Australia and also second largest in world by seating capacity.  It is the oldest cricket stadium in India established in 1864.  This stadium hosts Indian Premier League matches and is the home ground for Kolkata Knight Riders.

    The third One Day International match and final match of this series is schedule to be played on 06 Jan 2013 at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, New Delhi.  Feroz Shah Kotla Ground or Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium is the second oldest Cricket Stadium in India after the Eden Garden in Kolkata.  It was established in 1883.  This stadium is famous for its cauldron-like atmosphere, which is supposed to be the best in the country.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas is an annual celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and a widely observed holiday, celebrated generally on December 25 with great enthusiasm and gaiety all over the world.  It is largely characterized by exchanging gifts within the families and by gifts brought by Santa Clause and other mythical figures like Saint Nicholas, Saint Basil etc.  Christmas is not among the most primitive festival of Christians.  The exact date of his birth is unanimously fixed.  According to Eastern Christianity the original date of celebration was January 6.

There is a difference of 13 days between modern Georgian calendar and older Julian calendar.  Now, Christmas is celebrated on 25 Dec by Catholic, Protestant and most orthodox churches.  The celebratory customs associated in various countries with Christmas have a mix of Pre-Christian, Christian and secular themes.  In UK, Christmas season traditionally runs for twelve days.  It’s a period of feasting and merry making which ends on the twelfth night i.e. Christmas eve.  Whereas, in USA celebration begins many weeks before and continues up to New Year’s Day.

The popular customs related to Christmas includes, the Christmas tree, the Christmas ham, gift giving, Christmas music and caroling, exchange of Christmas cards, church celebrations etc.  The most important part of the festival is decorating Christmas tree.  It is planted at one corner of the house and then decorated with toys like dolls, birds, flowers, paper cuttings.  At night candles and electric bulbs are lighted on its branches

Christmas Eve is the time for family get together and to see people of all ages to have fun together.  Many families go off to church together celebrate midnight mass.  Some families go around to the streets, to hospitals and other such places singing carols.  At the end of the day, people exchange gifts and offer prayers.