Winter holidays

Bosnia says it will tighten controls over illegal logging ahead of the Christmas holiday, when the hunt for free yule logs and Christmas trees poses a threat to the country's woodlands.

BELGRADE - Orthodox believers in Serbia today celebrate Christmas Eve, when in temples and homes they burn Yule logs and have services on the eve of the Christian holiday - Christmas.

The programme of New Year's Eve celebrations held in city centre squares is intended for people of all ages and tastes. A minute after midnight, a fireworks display will set the skies above Ljubljana alight and announce the beginning of a new year.

Serbians have celebrated the New Year according to the Julian calendar used by the Serbian Orthodox Church, known also as the Serbian, or Orthodox New Year.

A large number of Belgraders turned out for a fireworks display at midnight in front of the Temple of St. Sava, where religious services were previously held.

Most people celebrate the arrival of the new year gathered with friends and family while drinking some champagne and eat delicious food or watching spectacular firework shows in the central squares of their cities.

Belgrade starts celebrating early this year. Starting on December 29, the city hosts four days of concerts in front the National Assembly.

On December 29, the band Miligram kicks off the festivities, followed by performances on December 30 by the band Van Gogh and Serbian pop star Zeljko Joksimovic.

Brunei
Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas, violating Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Somalia
There will be no Christmas or New Year celebrations in Somalia for fear that activities could evoke Islamist attacks, according to the Muslim-majority country’s government.

I go into a rage when certain people turn up their noses at sacrificing animals on the Feast of Sacrifice? 

I go into the same level of rage when certain people drop innuendos, say a thousand things and snap at our naïve and innocent people who plan to have a fun night on New Year's, with snacks, pajamas and slippers, TV or something at home...  

1. Christmas in December

December in the northern hemisphere is the darkest of all months. As midwinter advent solstice days get shorter, nights get longer and colder. All one needs is the warmth of the glow of a fire. As each night gets darker, we need another candle to lift our spirits, another log in the fire to warm our hearts.