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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-31
Catholic League Reminds New Yorkers of Christmas's True Meaning
The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights installed a massive 20-meter by 27-meter billboard on New York's Times Square during the Christmas season, featuring the Holy Family with the infant Jesus in the manger and the Adoration of the Magi . The billboard carried the message: "Send today's Scrooges a message: Celebrate the Prince of Peace," along with "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" . The Catholic League had previously installed a life-size Nativity scene in Central Park that remained throughout the Christmas season . Catholic League President Bill Donohue stated: "We want to remind people of the true meaning of Christmas and make visible what we are really celebrating, namely the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" . He emphasized that Christians have every right to display religious symbols in public spaces and would not surrender the religious freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-31
Trafford Centre Announces HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto Partnership
The Trafford Centre in Manchester has announced a unique partnership with sweet manufacturer HARIBO for its 2026 Christmas grotto experience . The "HARIBO Holly Jolly Grotto" will combine the tradition of meeting Santa with an interactive adventure through the colorful world of HARIBO . Children will become official "Holly Jolly Helpers," joining Santa and his elves on a mission to prepare for Christmas. Activities include designing digital sweet treats at the Creation Station, helping a giant cola bottle come to life with animated bubbles at the "Fizz the Festive Cola Lab," exploring glowing HARIBO Ring Reflections, and relaxing on an interactive Cherry Seat . The experience is produced by Bakehouse Factory, award-winning creators of interactive theatrical events. Tickets start at £20 for children and £8 for adults during off-peak periods, with standard tickets from £25 for children and £10 for adults. The grotto runs daily from November 20 through December 23 .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-31
US vs. German Christmas: A Tale of Two Traditions
A cultural comparison between American and German Christmas celebrations highlights the contrasting approaches to the holiday. In Germany, even atheist-leaning families maintain traditions such as Advent wreaths and telling children that the "Christkind" brings gifts, rather than the round, red-clad figure who comes down the chimney . German Christmas traditions are deeply rooted in religious observance and music, featuring four- to five-stanza hymns that require genuine musical ability. "In America, everything is much more commercial. With Black Friday and Amazon, Christmas is all about making money," noted Kim Preiss, a Wisconsin native who has lived in Germany for 15 years . While German Christmas markets generate billions of euros annually, the stalls selling beeswax candles and handmade ceramics feel less overtly commercial than American stores where TVs sit next to artificial Christmas trees .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-31
Chicago Christkindlmarket Returns to Daley Plaza for 30th Year
Chicago's beloved German-style Christkindlmarket will return to Daley Plaza for its 30th year in 2026, running from November 20 through December 24 . The future of the popular market had been uncertain after new capacity limits required by the city led to a significant drop in business last year, with Mayor Brandon Johnson suggesting it could be moved to a new location . Organizers have confirmed the event will remain at its traditional downtown location this year, operating Sundays through Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. . The market will also return to Gallagher Way outside Wrigley Field from November 20 through December 31, and to west suburban Aurora during the same period . Special holiday hours include shortened schedules on Thanksgiving (Nov. 26) and Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), with the market closed entirely on Christmas Day .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Mayor: Carnival Sends Message of Unity and Participation
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro described the Carnival as an event that "enhances tradition while at the same time looking to the future, reaffirming Venice as an international capital of culture, creativity and civil coexistence" . The Mayor emphasized that the Carnival embodies a message of "unity and collective growth in the spirit of Olympia," where competition becomes "spectacle, creativity, collective ritual, an opportunity for comparison and celebration" . The Carnival, he stated, "speaks to families, young people and children" and "opens its squares, its canals and its districts to the world" .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Ice Skating Rinks Across Venice and Mestre
Ice skating rinks were set up across the city to complement the Olympic theme, in Campo San Polo, Marghera's Piazza Mercato, and Mestre's Piazza Ferretto . These attractions offered visitors a taste of winter sports, connecting the Carnival celebration with the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The rinks were open throughout the Carnival period
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Traditional Elements: Flight of the Angel and Festa delle Marie
Traditional elements remained central to the Carnival, including the Flight of the Angel, where a costumed performer descended from St. Mark's Campanile into the square , and the Festa delle Marie, a key ritual based on a historical event . These events celebrate Venice's maritime history and its tradition of community celebration . The Carnival's artistic director described it as a celebration of "beauty, challenge, participation, and inclusion—values shared by both the Carnival tradition and the Olympic spirit" .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
The Twelfth Maria: Photography Competition at Scuola Grande
The "The Twelfth Maria" photography competition, held at the Scuola Grande San Giovanni Evangelista, brought together Venice's oldest tradition, historical costumes from Atelier Pietro Longhi, and the 12 Marie of the 2026 Carnival . Photographers were invited to capture the 12 Marie wearing gowns from the past 12 editions, each inspired by different themes and unique in design . The competition was open to all photography enthusiasts (using cameras, not mobile phones or tablets), with each participant submitting a photo project of three images
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Mask-Making Workshops and Cultural
The Carnival also featured cultural activities such as mask-making workshops and special exhibitions . Craft workshops at Ca' Macana, Tragicomica, and La Corte dei Miracoli offered activities for making and decorating Venetian masks . Notable exhibitions included "Bella la vita a Venezia" at Fondazione Querini Stampalia, "Double illusion/Doppia illusione" at Galleria La Storta, an ice installation by Olaf Nicolai at Palazzo Diedo, and "Atleti, lavoratori, operai, marinai, nella Venezia dell'800, aspettando le OLIMPIADI" at Fabbrica del Vedere .
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Source:Holiday Party / Time:2026-08-30
Allegorical Floats and Costumed Parades in Dese
On February 1, the procession of allegorical floats began in Dese, organized in collaboration with the Gruppo Giovani di Dese . The parade featured a float dedicated to the "Garden of Eden," accompanied by about one hundred costumed participants . The float traveled through the town before concluding at the church square around 4:30 PM, where festivities continued with music, entertainment, and the awarding of the most beautiful masks . Traditional Carnival treats like frittelle, galani, and hot chocolate were available for attendees .
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