Sunday, December 30, 2012

A Global Wave of New Year’s Greetings



Catch the Wave!

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to the following copyrighted material. For permission to reprint or excerpt it and/or link it to another website, contact them at  



Surfers around the world are ringing in the New Year with celebrations, costumes and champagne. SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel invite you to join in the party. So, c’mon!



Near Jeffrey’s Bay in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, home to famous beaches like Super Tube, Boneyards and Kitchen Windows, people dance in the streets to the sound of drums. 


 In Australia’s Gold Coast, known for its monster waves, New Year’s Day is a time for Surf Carnivals – with local teams competing in life saving events, parades and picnics.


 In Rio, Brazil, everyone dresses in white and strolls down to the Copacabana Beach (made famous by the song The Girl from Ipanema) and parties. People bring lilies to sacrifice to Yemanja, the Goddess of the Sea, who then grants them three wishes.

 
On Costa Rica’s tropical beaches from Playa Naranjo to Potrero Grande it’s a night-long fiesta with people dancing till dawn to Rancho Ituana, La Lora and Tabu music, grooving to Latin, hip hop and Reggae. 

 
Surfers in Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands, which are said to have the highest number of wave breaks in a single area, have two New Year’s celebrations to choose from – the traditional one on January 1 or the Islamic New Year, whose date varies each year.


Spain’s Fuerteventura Beach in the Canary Islands is a Mecca for surfers with perfect weather conditions all year long. On New Year’s Eve people party into the morning, celebrating with a breakfast of chocolate con churros (pastries).

  
  
In Hawaii the beaches are lit with fireworks from Oahu to the Big Island with people wishing each other Hau’oli Makahiki Hou – Happy New Year!

  
And closer to home, in Huntington Beach, you can join in the fun with an early dip in the chilly Pacific Ocean at the 13th Annual Surf City Splash on New Year’s Day. Sponsored by the Lions Club, the event includes a pancake breakfast and crafts fair.


Wherever your adventures take you on the eve of this New Year we wish you a time of festivities and good fortune.


After your champagne toast, remember to recycle the bottle.

Wishing you a Happy New Year with no ifs, ands, or (cigarette) butts,

Filled with perfect waves, clean beaches, and friends to share them with.


Happy New Year!

 
SurfWriter Girls Patti &Sunny



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