City rocks as revellers attend NY events
By Peter Townson/Staff Reporter
As the bells rang to mark the beginning of 2012 yesterday, a large number of residents attended parties and private events throughout Qatar.
Most of the hotels hosted special events to mark the occasion, some organising parties for the evening while others chose to offer guests dining experiences to celebrate the arrival of 2012.
Lebanese star Nancy Ajram delighted her fans at a concert in La Cigale, while visitors to the W took in some of Abba’s greatest hits performed by tribute band ‘Abbamania.’
A spokesperson for La Cigale said: “Guests from different nationalities were eagerly celebrating New Year with joy, happiness and fun. Nancy Ajram’s event was enormously successful, she managed to move the crowd in her own special way and every single person had a
memorable blast.”
Guests at the Ritz-Carlton’s dining outlets enjoyed special set menus to mark the evening and the Grand Hyatt hosted a hogmanay event and party at poolside lounge, Rocca.
Sealine Beach resort hosted a special Bollywood disco event, giving fans of Indian music and cinema the chance to mark the evening with a retro party.
Numerous other parties took place throughout the city, while many chose to host private events for the New Year’s celebrations.
John, who celebrated the evening at the Grand Hyatt, said: “It was a great night with friends – it’s always nice to do something special for New Year’s Eve, and this year was no exception. I had a brilliant evening and a great start to 2012.”
Whether holding parties to enjoy the occasion, or arranging dinner parties, many people took the opportunity to ring in New Year with their friends and families at close-knit private events.
With people from all over the world enjoying the occasion, many chose to celebrate the turning of the year in their own countries, with some party hosts organising international events to mark the New Year in the home nations.
However, with a lot of people working yesterday, some chose not to mark the New Year with any major celebrations.
British expatriate Kevin said: “I went round to a friend’s house for dinner on New Year’s Eve and just enjoyed a quiet night with close friends to bring in 2012. I had to work on New Year’s day so I needed to have an early night.”
Those who had the day off yesterday chose to celebrate New Year’s day in a number of ways, with many of the hotels offering special brunches for family and friends to enjoy the first day of 2012.
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I saw the new year in with a small group of friends in a party at a private villa. Some had work the next morning and some had a day off. Thus the party spirit was a little diluted. We all had a good time, and it was a pleasant evenning, but I just feel that if everyone had new years day off, spirits would have been a little higher.
How did you see the new year in? Do you think new years day should be a national holiday?
Indeed a wonderful blessing.. Thanks yurizacky :)
what a wonderful blessing you had on the first day of the year, seasons! Congratulations!!!
Thank you UKEng!! :)
Congratulation season :)
NO!
Thanks! nomerci :)
Congrats seasons! :)
Had the most wonderful New Year.. My wife gave birth to a healthy and cute little baby boy yesterday.. :)
Had a super time with friends and family. Don't care if it is official or not, my husband
s company is closed that day ;)
I mean there are no fireworks etc anyway..So it's just what it is here.
What I don't get is why so many people are so very intent on missing out on a nice celebration...but hey, each to their own!
Yes TB yes I think you got the picture..:-()
Rizks: Yeeeah bro AT LAST!!! She was on the chronic constipated side for sometimes so I gave her evaporated milk, just a little each day.
Also she seems to be doing well on a regime canned food twice a day. The brand I’m using is very inexpensive to refill.
DB, good to hear tat u had a great NY bash !
now....did ur cat Pooped ? :(
It should be an official holiday. Personally, I saw the new year in with family.
Hot cocoa and a pipe while sitting in your rocking chair these days then ;)
TB life changes..:)
I'm back to work after an amazing and restful 3 days holiday which I got to spend with my brother Andrew and his G/F. The morning sun by the sea side was always amazing lots of hours by the pool, sand boarding, quad biking, dune bashing with a 4WD, lots of food and home-made chocolates and cookies from my Mom’s pastry shop back in Melb ^^ ( mostly illegal on my diet charts on other days !), Museum of Islamic Art. Most importantly I got my brother introduced to Lolaaaa! My lil lovely fur ball and we all spent lots of time.. Truly 2012's NY rocked my boat!
That's not the party animal UkEng I used to know
I was sleeping..:(
Considering the fact that the 1st of Muharram is not a national holiday either I doubt January 1st will be declared a holiday anytime soon. Cos when they do then many will demand the same for the 1st of Muharram as well since after all the Islamic new year begins on that day and Qatar being Muslim country, will then be expected to give that day off as well.
Personally we don't celebrate either day but will not refuse an extra holiday be it 1st or 31st!
so we shall celebrate Valentines day and Sports day together...woow me lovin it ! :)
calendar filled with up holidays :)
Looking forward to Valentine Day (Sports Day) holiday for some sporty activities :)...
bad that it is 2nd Tuesday of every Feburary :( should be Sunday or Thursday...
what civil tradition, its just another of those business gimmicks, thats all......
to declare it a holiday, maybe a good suggestion is delay the start of work 'til after lunch. So family could enjoy being together, praying together, eating together at the time old year is ending and a new year is beginning. Really miss the celebration back home.
It's not a religious but a civil tradition worldwide.
They should declare Jan. 1 as official holiday.
what is the significance of Jan 1 anyway?
holiday or not, i always take it off, and not deducted from my 30 days off :)
there should b holiday on 1 Jan :)
there should b holiday on 1 Jan :)
Should New Year’s Day be a holiday?While revellers around the world rung in the New Year, many of Qatar’s residents wondered why New Year’s Day was not an official public holiday.However, some others felt there was no need for it. “Qatar and Saudi Arabia remain the only two Gulf states not to have made January 1 an annual holiday, even though a large number of companies are either closed or work at reduced hours,” a resident said yesterday. Another said the loss of productivity due to people going on vacation during the season, and others taking the day off or working shorter hours makes it difficult to justify businesses remaining open, and unfair for many people who must still go to work. A number of respondents highlighted the fact that New Year’s Day is not a traditional Islamic holiday and is usually celebrated with boisterous parties. As celebrating it would be inconsistent with the country’s religious values, many have argued that it would in fact be unfair to have a holiday that the country’s citizens do not celebrate. The holiday would also not be celebrated by many supermarket employees, emergency workers and other essential staff.However, many of the country’s expatriates favoured some kind of a semi-official approval for those wishing to celebrate the New Year. Some respondents remarked that the only way they are ever able to celebrate the New Year is when it happens to coincide with a weekend, and usually are unable to join in the festivities. That is not to say that the New Year passed by quietly. Partygoers danced the night away at a number of hotels that hosted special events, and many people threw their own private get-togethers in their homes with friends and family. “However, New Year’s Eve excitement in Qatar falls short of the jubilant atmosphere and wild celebration seen in the UAE, for example, which hosts hundreds of large concerts and parties featuring major international acts such as Coldplay who gave a performance in Abu Dhabi on New Year’s Eve,” a resident added.http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=478635&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16
"City rocks"??? Was there an earthquake?
a big YES ! :)