Christmas Over-New Year's Next.-(image heavy)

[No Elephants]

So, you survived both the end of the Mayan calendar and Christmas. New Year's Eve is next.

If your town does not have a First Night celebration, start instigating!

Years ago, my adopted home town of Boston wanted to do something about all the insanity and drunk driving-related deaths associatd with New Year's Eve. So, it invented something called First Night and held the first First Night anywhere ever in 1975. By 2000, First Night celebrations were in at least 260 cities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Night`

Boston is a pedestrian's town and Boston's First Night is a pedestrian's celebration. Many have painted faces, masks and/or party hats, making for an extra festive atmosphere.

First Night is also very much an artist's celebration, artists having been the moving force behind the original First Night.



It is also a family celebration, at least in the earlier hours. Events begin at 9 a.m.

Many events (drama, dance, singing, storytelling, etc.) are held in churches along the First Night route.




There is also a grand procession, where artistry, both amateur and professional, is on display in costumes, floats, etc. Many in the procession are on stilts or unicyles, enabling those massed on sidewalks to see them. Another way to help viewers see is putting stuff on a tall stick.





And, along the parade route are ice sculptures. They began relatively simply, but have now reached amazing heights--and widths-- and stunning artistry.



Both in the Grand Procession and the ice sculptures, popular themes include dragons, a Chinese New Year symbol from our "Chinatown," and the sea, Boston being a seaport and Massachusetts a fishing and whaling state since 1620. And Native Americans, for obvious reasons.

The festivities culminate with a fireworks viewing at the Boston waterfront--literally reclaimed from wharf rats for chic yuppie housing starting at about the same time First Night started.

Public transportation aids in the "stay alive" effort with extra runs and no fares.

A bonus of global warming is that weather is often relatively nice for first night, though it saw its snow and freezing cold nights, especially in the earlier years.




A family with painted faces headed to downtown Boston on public transportation




A First Night Boston sign carved from ice.



Young reveler sporting face painting and a First Night Button, which is purchased in advance and good for admission to indoor events--no ticket lines at any venue.



Happy-looking Grand Procession participant.



Another GP participant



lit ice sculpture portraying a tropical climate, perhaps to taunt/tempt Bostonians on December 31. I believe this is by Donald Chappelle, who does some of the largest and most beautiful ice sculptures.




Fireworks originating in Boston harbor, with Boston's financial district visible in the photo



The tall lit structure to the right of the fireworks is the tower of the Boston Custom House. The custom originated in 1674 in a different location and was re-uilt in its current location by order of Andrew Jackson. The tower was added later. The custom house is now a Marriott Time Share Property, but still cool to look at after all these years.

[Enthusiast]

1. Looks fun! nt

[No Elephants]

2. Fun, and not fatal.

It's amazing what a community can do when it makes a commitment.