The Christmas holiday is celebrated all around the world and lights form a major part of most Christmas decorations. Here are two masterclass examples from opposite ends of the globe, of synchronised light and music displays.
First up is a display at Perth, Western Australia that was posted on YouTube by TonyaI.
And next is "Symphony In Lights" at Denver, Colorado, presented by Carson Williams and Parker 3D, which they also posted on YouTube.
Both are great examples of a new, computer controlled, art form.
I want to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, so I thought that a seasonal end of week video would be a good idea. There are many Christmas songs, some have a message, some make you think, this song from Slade just makes you want to party.
Merry Xmas everyone and thanks to Maribel for taking the trouble to post the video. Have fun.
The annual "Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light" at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry runs through January 6, 2007. It features more than 50 trees, each decorated by volunteers from Chicago's ethnic communities to reflect holiday traditions from around the globe, and has been dazzling families for 66 years.
Traditionally, this is the week that the major New York City department stores unveil their decorated holiday windows and such is their appeal that they draw an estimated 6,000 window gazers per hour at the season's peak. Read a nice review from Jennifer 8. Lee, in the New York Times Blog.
It seems early to be thinking about Christmas but some opportunities are so fantastic, you have to grab them as soon as they are presented to you. Deep within a forest, at the summit of a volcano, exists an extraordinary world, a world of possibilities, a world called Varekai.
In the Romany language, the word 'Varekai' means 'wherever' and is the title of Cirque Du Soleil's new production at the Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, paying tribute to the nomadic soul, to the spirit, the art of the circus tradition, and to the infinite passion of those whose quest takes them along the path that leads to Varekai.
The story of Varekai begins with a solitary young man falling from the sky, parachuted into the shadows of a magical forest, a kaleidoscopic world populated by fantastical creatures, the scene is set for an extraordinary adventure on an inspired incantation to life rediscovered. And the Cirque Du Soleil performers are technically brilliant, I really cannot think of a more magical way of enjoying the Christmas season. The production opens 10 January, 2008 and runs to 3 February, 2008. Buy your tickets for Cirque Du Soleil from Ticketmaster now and then enjoy the summer!
?Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her ?kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled our brains for a long winter?s nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; ?Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!? As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky; So up to the house-top the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack. His eyes?how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle, But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ?Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.?
