2014 New Year’s
9
ISSUE
Special Edition
Issue 9
Contents On the Cover
03 A Good Year Ahead
A New Year Study
07
New Year Expectations
10
New Years in Prision
13
My Resolutions
14
A Positive 2014!
15
Why I Don’t Celebrate
15
My Meaning of New Years
2014 Special Edition
New Year’s
9
ISSUE
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In this Special Edition of the VxM Magazine, it’s time to celebrate New Years! Learn how other cultures and countries celebrate the occastion and learn what the Holiday means to our young people, along with some resolutions for 2014!
Contributors rdinator
Darren Mann, VXM Project Coo cer Justina Raisrick, Project Offi
t Officer Ashley Rose, Youth Engagemen ment Officer Sharna Michael, Youth Engage
Henna, Writer Eva Avrillon, Writer Ben Driver, Writer Anu (Angel <3), Writer
Anonymous, Writer Khadeem Edwards, Writer Emilia Pudlewska, Writer Cherelle, Writer
r
Shannon Noy, Editor / Designe
Thank You! on, VxM promotes media educati tion duc pro n, wisdom, participatio tares ativ initi ion nat emi and diss sing geted at 16 to 25 year olds, focu . tity iden l ura cult on particularly
A Good Year Ahead Henna
When you say New Year’s Day, many people think of parties, fireworks and fun. It’s a time to celebrate a new beginning and a new year. Although I sometimes enjoy watching the fireworks and make my resolutions every year, I don’t really celebrate the New Year. Growing up in a Muslim family we don’t celebrate New Year’s Day as it is not seen a big deal to us and we do not drink alcohol. However, we do see the New Year as a time for change and new beginning; in fact I personally take this part of the New Year quite seriously. Every year during the last one or two months, I think about anything I would like to do differently next year. For example last year I decided I would put my hair strengtheners away and no longer use them to damage my hair as I used to
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straighten my hair every day! Amazingly I stuck to this resolution and went from being addicted to straightening my hair, to actually beginning to like my naturally wavy/curly hair. I made a big change and my resolution has even lasted to this day. This year will be New Year’s 2014 and I am quite excited about it. I haven’t quite figured what my resolution will be this year but I know it will be something to do with working harder in college and doing more things to help my future career in the media. I also plan to have more fun this year and enjoy life as I am still young. You never know what the New Year may bring, but it feels to me like this is going to be a good year.
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A New Year Study Anu(Angel <3)
New Year’s Day according to the Gregorian calendar (January 1) is one of the most popular occasions in India. In many countries, there’s a shared belief that specific actions taken on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day—or at the stroke of midnight when one becomes the other—can influence the fate of the months ahead. How Do People Celebrate In India? People in all parts of India dress colorfully and indulge in fun filled activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, and attending parties. Night clubs, movie theatres, resorts, restaurants and amusement parks are filled with people of all ages.
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People greet and wish each other Happy New Year. Exchanging messages, greeting cards and gifts are part and parcel of the New Year celebration. The media covers many New Year events which are showcased on prime channels for most of the day. People who decide to stay indoors resort to these New Year shows for entertainment and fun. The age-old tradition of planning new resolutions for the coming year is a common sight. Larger cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai organize live concerts which are attended by Bollywood stars and other well-known personalities. The idea is to wave goodbye to the year gone-by and welcome the New Year in the hope that it will invite truckloads of happiness and joy in everyone’s life.
New Year’s Eve Around The World (15 Different Ways) •
In Spain, People eat 12 grapes believing it will bring luck.
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In Belgium, children write New Year’s letters to their parents.
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In (Prague) the Czech Republic, fireworks displays last all day long.
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In Denmark, people eat a really huge cake...and throw dishes.
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In Japan, it is believed the God of the New Year comes down to Earth.
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In Estonia, they eat up to 12 meals that night.
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In Finland, people tell one another’s fortunes with melted “tin.”
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In Ireland, (single) women put mistletoe leaves under their pillows to find husbands.
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In Germany, they eat a whole lot of sweets and watch TV.
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In Macedonia, people celebrate New Year’s Eve twice that is on Dec 31st & Jan 1st.
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Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is said to be a day of judgment for every person.
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In Ecuador, men dress up like women and people burn scarecrows.
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In China, New Year’s rituals include cleaning and buying presents.
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In Serbia, New Year’s Eve is like Christmas.
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In Iran, the first day of spring marks the beginning of the New Year.
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New Years Expectations Ben Driver
So New Years is a bit of a funny one. There are still Christmas lights up and the horizon is filled with fireworks; it’s like Santa and Guy Fawkes have joined forces to bring people together in a grand plot to blow up the previous year. I’ve always thought it was odd to count down to a year increased in numerical value. Of course counting up would be silly... And why do we kiss? And by that I mean why do people around me kiss? We all feel like we have to do something but it can be like that awkward moment when you meet someone for the first time and you don’t know whether to hug, shake hands, kiss one cheek, do some gangsta fresh hand combo or just wave in an enthusiastic manner. I am quite content at screaming “Happy New Year” for a bit then to continue dancing the night/year away. See that’s the thing New Year’s Eve celebrations don’t peak when it hits midnight. It’s an anti-climax. We all continuously expect somehow to feel different or for something spectacular to happen, but I’m afraid all we are doing is watching time pass in different states of control (I may or may not be referring to the consumption of alcohol here). It makes me wonder what the best way to celebrate the oncoming New Year is. Fancy dress should be a default. Maybe some sort of race where you dodge obstacles and have to get to the finish line before 12am, or a night-time scuba dive. Whatever you plan let’s start the next year by being different.
Though I personally have high hopes for 2014 and think that it will be a good year for me I need time to settle into things. After all it is winter and everything slows down in the cold. If, for example, you expect me to write the correct year on any important forms for the first two months of 2014 then you can think again. It’s like age. As soon as you reach your birthday there is without fail a period of time where you think you are younger. And if you think as soon as I wake up on 1st January I will spring into action, tackling resolutions; finding that new job, searching for romance, eating healthily, hitting the gym, you are again so so wrong. My body will rise when it is ready, love will have to come after some sort of detox or general cleanse, I haven’t had time to go to the shops and organise my meals into various shades of green and the gym is just not going to happen. Ever! But I do understand the appeal of New Year and the idea that you can start something afresh. You should never forget the past, you need it to learn and develop yourself but if you need an excuse to try something out and strive towards something different and/or better New Years is the time to do it. Why not see it as an opening door. When the clock strikes twelve you take a couple of tentative steps through that door. It leads to empty room, albeit for some cans of paint and brushes. The walls are bare. Now it’s time for you to picture your future.
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New Years in Prison Anonymous
Well its 5 o clock pm and its time to get behind our doors. Today I have rushed into my room knowing its the start of a New Year, which means I’m 1 step closer to home and freedom! I banged my own door not giving the screw the opportunity to close it behind me. Well an hour has passed and I’m waiting for the New Years special of Eastenders to come on. I’m sifting through my cupboards, having a little clear up of the cluster from the days’ ventures. See, when you live in a small space, mess is a guarantee. I stumble across some letters and cards. I have a read and giggle to myself. I can hear someone shouting my name from 2 cells down. It’s my mate Milky. He’s a good laugh. Milky is telling me to watch the channel 4 news, as he believes I’d be interested in what they are talking about. I flick over and, yes it is something of interest to me! It’s now time to make a cup of tea and roll a burn. Eastenders is on in 20 minutes. Whoo! I wonder what happened to Max Branning?
OK, Eastenders is finished and now its time for some window shouting till the clock hits twelve! We bang our doors to bring in the New Year at 11:30. The landing is loud and everybody is excited! The turning of a New Year is a special thing in prison as it brings you one step closer to release and gives you hope of freedom. It’s 00:00 hrs and all you can hear is screams of “Happy New Year” all around the prison. I’m blasting my Ibiza mix cd with “Bonkers” on full blast! No one settles till 2 am. We are all talking through the walls. I turn off my light and go to bed with the feeling of hope and relief that I am alive and well to see another year!
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My New Year Resolutions Khadeem Edwards
From a very young age, I have a whole load of inspiration through music and other creative expression, such as acting and other creative venues. Apart from attending performing arts classes for a short period time a number of years ago, my arts have never seemed to leave my bedroom. I have been involved in a number of projects and competitions over the years but I have never had the personal confidence in my arts to fully come out with it. I see this as a blessing in disguise because the lack of confidence I had pushed me to work at my craft. This year I have learnt mostly through the law of attraction teachings to not focus on other people’s opinions, work hard, dream chase and never give up because I choose to have no
regrets. Over the years I know I have written hundreds of the songs. I believe I’m in a place where music is really ready. I’m excited the growth of my music and how far my musical talent goes. This year I have been recording a duo mix tape, which is called ‘Poverty-Poetry’, with another rapper, Profound, which will be released in January. In the New Year I will start my first official mix tape, ‘The Jesus Tape’. With this project, I’m looking to really push my creative skills to create something very unique to exhibit what I can do. I don’t believe I have shown the drive of my creative mind. My two main New Years Resolutions are that I have the greatest mix tape in the UK and that I exceed my engineering/ producing skills.
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A Positive
2 0 1 4 Eva Avillon Eva Avrillon is a lover of literature and politics and writes for VxM as well as Easy Word Portfolio and R-Bl.-Mt. Cl. I.
Here we are! December is already here and year 2014 is not so far! It’s time to think how this past year has been going and how we want the next one to be! I guess that once more I am going to celebrate New Year with my family, in our big house… Indeed my parents moved and bought a new house in Normandy, it’s the ideal place to spend the holiday season with beautiful flames in the fireplace! In my case, eight past years have been really difficult, especially the last one – I finished my studies, had to leave England and experienced difficulties in finding a job after I sacrificed everything to my studies I didn’t even
really like. But the positive point is that I have learnt a lot from my experience in England. I finally took some time to devote to my drawings, writings, and created my own blogs. I also found a job as a receptionist for a big company: it’s not the job of my dreams, but it’s a very stimulating experience. I have learnt a lot, the people are really nice, and I am sure these next months there won’t be too unpleasant. I think my good resolutions are quite… selfish. I’d like to continue on this positive way, to regain my self-esteem, to be closer to make my wishes come true (to publish my novel, to save money into learning design, to come back to England)… And even if it seems too much, I’d like to meet new people and make new friends, because nothing can replace the company of wonderful and inspiring individuals! As you can see, I am determined to make next year a lot better than last one!
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Why I Don’t Celebrate Cherelle
Im not a great fan of celebrations such as birthdays, Christmas and New Years. To me they’re just another day. I can remember only one New Years which I felt was like a celebration just because to me at that time coincidently, I felt that I had over come a milestone. I see it as this, if something happens that is worth celebrating, I’m going to celebrate it at that time. Maybe if I had an amazing year all year around or even a shit year I would probably celebrate New Years. This might sound like I’m highly religious or just a miserable person but I’m really not, theses dates just don’t appeal to me.
My Meaning of New Years Emilia Pudlewska
Many people think that New Year’s night is about partying but I believe that it is more about thinking about the future and past. Each year we are getting older and life becomes more serious. We enjoy the party and fireworks but after the night is over we start to think more what we want from life in this year. We plan new courses of action to better our lives. This is best seen in one of the most popular customs and the key to the meaning of New Year’s: Making Resolutions. Every resolution you make on this day shows that you are in control of yourself; your life is in your own hands. However we still like to think that our future is written in the stars and that the universe has a big power. We are trying to make the New Year night as perfect as we can and do the same with the rest of the year.