Warmest greetings from Nikko Bali Resort and Spa

Warmest greetings from Nikko Bali Resort and Spa

Happy New Year 2011 !!!

Wow, another new year already! People say that time flies when you're truly having fun and I guess we did have fun as 2010 has passed so quickly.

To close 2010, our guests and Nikko associates partied all night long in style at our outlets and the ballroom. Gold and black adorned our Graha Sawangan Ballroom in our Golden Moments celebration, while Rip Curl brought the beach indoors at Oolooloos Entertainment Center, creating a more laid back celebration.

January 2011, Nikko Bali Resort and Spa will feature various promotions to make your stay with us a pleasant one. From the freshest of the sea at our Seafood Market to a special Russian Christmas celebration on January 6th.

Starting this month, we invite you to join us on Facebook and Twitter to stand a chance to win monthly lucky draws for dinner, accommodation or spa treatments at Nikko Bali Resort and Spa. Find out Januaryâ?Ts contest on our Facebook page.

Look forward to seeing new things in this new year with the new harmony of Nikko Bali Resort and Spa.

With warm regards,

Jean-Charles Le Coz
General Manager

RUSSIAN CHRISTMAS - January 7

Russian Christmas (taken from wikipedia.com)
Thirteen days after Western Christmas, on January 7th, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates its Christmas, in accordance with the old Julian calendar. It's a day of both solemn ritual and joyous celebration

After the 1917 Revolution, Christmas was banned throughout Russia, along with other religious celebrations. It wasn't until 75 years later, in 1992, that the holiday was openly observed. Today, it's once again celebrated in grand fashion, with the faithful participating in an all-night Mass in incense-filled Cathedrals amidst the company of the painted icons of Saints.

Christmas is one of the most joyous traditions for the celebration of Eve comes from the Russian tradition. On the Eve of Christmas, it is traditional for all family members to gather to share a special meal. The various foods and customs surrounding this meal differed in Holy Russia from village to village and from family to family, but certain aspects remained the same.

An old Russian tradition, whose roots are in the Orthodox faith, is the Christmas Eve fast and meal. The fast, typically, lasts until after the evening worship service or until the first star appears. The dinner that follows is very much a celebration, although, meat is not permitted. Kutya (kutia), a type of porridge, is the primary dish. It is very symbolic with its ingredients being various grains for hope and honey and poppy seed for happiness and peace.

Once the first star has appeared in the sky, the festivities begin. Although all of the food served is strictly Lenten, it is served in an unusually festive and anticipatory manner and style. The Russians call this meal: "The Holy Supper". The family gathers around the table to honor the coming Christ Child. A white table-cloth, symbolic of Christ's swaddling clothes, covers the Table. Hay is brought forth as a reminder of the poverty of the Cave where Jesus was born. A tall white candle is place in the center of the Table, symbolic of Christ "the Light of the World". A large round loaf of Lenten bread, "pagach", symbolic of Christ the Bread of Life, is placed next to the Candle.

The meal begins with the Lord's Prayer, led by the father of the family. A prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings of the past year is said and then prayers for the good things in the coming year are offered. The head of the family greets those present with the traditional Christmas greeting: "Christ is Born"! The family members respond: "Glorify Him"! The Mother of the family blesses each person present with honey in the form of a cross on each forehead, saying: "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, may you have sweetness and many good things in life and in the new year". Following this, everyone partakes of the bread, dipping it first in honey and then in chopped garlic. Honey is symbolic of the sweetness of life, and garlic of the bitterness. The "Holy Supper" is then eaten (see below for details). After dinner, no dishes are washed and the Christmas presents are opened. Then the family goes to Church, coming home between 2 and 3 am. On the Feast of the Nativity, neighbors and family members visit each other, going from house to house, eating, drinking and singing Christmas Carols all the day long.

 Happy New year 2011