STAY WARM AT GLOBAL WINTER WONDERLAND

With the average temperature in the winter months hovering in the 30s, it is very important to stay warm during your visit to Global Winter Wonderland. While dressing in layers is the most important factor, there are other ways to keep the chill from getting to your bones as well.

• Stay Hydrated! – Freezing temperatures will draw the moisture out of your body, leading to dehydration. If your body is dehydrated, it is harder to stay warm. Head over to the International Food Bazaar to refuel with water or pick up a warm drink when you arrive to the event.
• Don’t Stop Moving – There is so much to see at Global Winter Wonderland, you will want to stop and take pictures of everything! However, standing in place for too long will slow blood circulation to the extremities. Move your hands and wiggle your toes to keep blood flowing. Also, don’t be afraid to break out your best dance moves while watching the entertainment performances.
• Avoid Cotton Clothing – Cotton absorbs moisture and is a poor choice for insulation. Instead, dress in synthetic fabrics, such as wool or fleece, which dry quickly and will keep moisture away from the skin.
• Check the Weather Forecast – As excited as you may be to get to Global Winter Wonderland, don’t forget to check the weather forecast. Don’t get caught in a rain shower without an umbrella or proper foot gear! If the night is going to be colder than normal, bring extra socks, scarves, and hats for you and your party.

Don’t let cold weather interfere with fun! Follow these tips and have a blast at Global Winter Wonderland.

Food in Global Winter Wonderland Atlanta

What could be better than having the opportunity to try delicious delicacies from all over the world in one place? Global Winter Wonderland Atlanta is your destination! With a mouth-watering international food bazaar that features dishes from American, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Thai, Greek, Italian, and Korean cultures, you may taste to your heart’s desires.

American: Corn Dogs

When you think of traditional American foods, corn dogs come to mind. The creator of the corn dog is disputed, but it didn’t take long for corn dogs to make their way into the hearts (and stomachs) of generations of Americans. Corn dogs have become so popular amongst the American people that National Corndog Day is celebrated every March.

Mexican: Tacos

Just as with the American corn dog, the origin of the taco is unknown. However, the word “taco” got its start in the 18^th century silver mines of Mexico, when a taco was just paper wrapped around gunpowder. Don’t worry; the tacos at GWW can be consumed. Don’t forget the salsa!

Chinese: Fried Rice

Fried Rice is one of the most popular and versatile dishes of Chinese cuisine, as several ingredients, such as vegetables, eggs, and chicken can be mixed into fried rice recipes. It is believed that fried rice was invented sometime during the Sui Dynasty (589 – 618 AD) in the city of Yangzhou. Because fried rice can be served as either a side dish or a main course, it is no surprise that it appeals to the palates of people of other cultures as well.

Italian: Pizza

Where would the world be if pizza had not been created? This traditional Italian meal has expanded beyond the Italian border and into the mouths of the American people. Did you know that Americans eat approximately 350 slices of pizza per SECOND? I think we owe thanks to Raffaele Esposito of Naples for creating this lovely treat in 1889.

Thai: Tom Yum Soup

Tom Yum Soup is a spicy clear soup that originated in Laos and Thailand. This dish, usually served as an appetizer, varies between the two countries. The Laotian version of the soup contains rice, whereas the regular version does not.  

Greek: Baklava

While many think that baklava came straight from the heart of Greece, it has been argued that the food has Assyrian origin. Around 8 B.C., Assyrians baked thin layers of dough with nuts and poured honey over it. The recipe spread around the region of the Middle East, but as many civilizations came and went over time, baklava eventually found a permanent home in Greece.

Japanese: Sushi

Just as with baklava, many people automatically associate sushi with Japan. However, sushi originated in 4^th century BC in Southeast Asia. At this time, salted fish was preserved with rice. This type of sushi is called nare-zushi, and was consumed only after the rice was discarded. When this meal was introduced to Japan in 8^th century AD, the Japanese preferred to eat the fish with the rice. Sushi began expanding rapidly outside of Japan in the 1980s in the wake of increased health consciousness.

Make sure you come to Global Winter Wonderland hungry! You will want to have room in your belly for all of the fantastic morsels that will be available right at your fingertips.

A Brief History of Lanterns and Lantern Festivals

A Brief History of Lanterns and Lantern Festivals 

Origins in Ancient China

Global Winter Wonderland’s magnificent towering lanterns, some of which soar to over 50 feet high, are built by Chinese engineers with modern technology and even reflect the trendy green thinking of today, with their eco-friendly features of low voltage LEDS, fluorescent lights, and solar paneling. However modern the lanterns gracing the night skies of Global Winter Wonderland are, their history actually goes back over centuries and two thousand years to ancient China. 

Paper lanterns originated from as far back as the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD) and were used as lamps, especially in entry ways of homes. The lantern shade was practical in that it protected the flame from being extinguished in windy weather. Lanterns were made with a variety of crafts such as Chinese paintings, paper-cutting, and pricking and seaming, as well as various kinds of materials such as bamboo, wood, wheat-straw and metal. Paper and silk were the major materials. The traditional Chinese lantern was one that was red in color. 

Chinese monks also used lanterns on the twelfth day of the first lunar month to worship Buddha. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Emperor Liu Zhuang was a Buddhist and ordered his citizenry to light lanterns to worship Buddha as the monks did. Eventually this lantern lighting became a grand festival with common people. During the Tang Dynasty (618 AD – 907 AD), people made lanterns to celebrate their peaceful life. During this time, lanterns also symbolized and celebrated the prosperity, strength, and power of China. From then on, lighting lanterns became popular in the entire country.

Lanterns as a Status Symbol 

Eventually, lanterns went on to become an object of artistic expression, ornamentation, and a major status symbol. Common to ancient Chinese society was its penchant for grand celebration, such as the Lantern Festival, aka Little New Year, named because it is the culmination of the Chinese New Year festival.

The lantern festival was also where artisans competed amongst themselves to produce the most beautifully designed, elaborate, and exquisite lantern. The most popular designs were ripped off and copied by other lantern makers. The emperor of China himself would hire the best lantern designers to work for him, a position which was considered to be a high honor. 

Lantern Festivals Today

Once used for lighting before the introduction of gas and then electricity, lanterns have now evolved to become merely decorative or more significantly used during celebrations. Although there is no practical necessity for Chinese lanterns nowadays, they are still made, used, and enjoyed by the Chinese people. They continue to be a means of artistic expression, both in terms of functionality, design, and decoration.

Now more types of lanterns appear in festivals apart from the traditional red Chinese ones. More modern technology is used on making lanterns, such as the ones at Global Winter Wonderland.  Lanterns can be made with music playing from them, with control panels to make them light up in various ways and at various times, and so forth. The shapes of the modern lanterns have changed a lot too. They can be cartoon characters, Chinese zodiac animals, and architectural landmarks such as the ones featured at Global Winter Wonderland. Lantern engineers can even involve computer games in lanterns, which give visitors a  new and fresh perspective of the entertainment value of lanterns.

The streets both in big cities and small towns all over China and various other parts of the world are decorated with red lanterns during festivals, especially Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Lantern Festival. In fact, Global Winter Wonderland, which ICEG launched in 2011, has the distinction being the largest lantern festival of its kind outside of China.  

Global Winter Wonderland is Coming to the ATL!

Global Winter Wonderland is Coming to the ATL!

After two years of great success and positive word of mouth in the San Francisco Bay Area, the spectacular Global Winter Wonderland lantern festival is taking a road trip and making its debut in the southeastern US in Atlanta for the 2013 winter season!  The Global Winter Wonderland team is brimming with excitement about producing and presenting this event this year at Turner Field, home of the major league baseball team  and perennial playoff contender the Atlanta Braves.

Why Atlanta you ask? Atlanta is dynamic and growing. And for a festival such as Global Winter Wonderland that celebrates and promotes diverse cultures and populations, Atlanta couldn’t be more perfect, as it epitomizes diversity. In fact, the city's racial diversity is greater than the nation as a whole. Atlanta is also younger than the U.S. population with an average age of 34 compared to 36 for the US population as a whole. More than 35 percent of those who moved to Atlanta have also come to Atlanta from a different state.

Atlanta is also the nation's 4th largest African-American majority city and has long been known as a "black mecca" for its role as a center of black wealth, political and social power, education, and culture, including a strong film and music presence. Many of today’s top recording artists hail from and make their home base in Atlanta, and many a movie and TV production film in Atlanta, giving a big boost to this city’s cultural profile. When powerhouse producer and director Tyler Perry opened up the first ever major TV and movie studio owned by an African American, Tyler Perry Productions, he opened this 200,000 square foot behemoth in Atlanta. 

Atlanta has no natural boundaries, so the metropolitan area is large, encompassing 8,480.27 square miles.  Across the region, 28 counties and 140 municipalities govern. The City of Atlanta, in the center of the metropolitan area, encompasses 131 square miles. What better location than this center city of a huge metropolitan area to host Global Winter Wonderland, to enable relatively easy access to all who wish to come and enjoy! 

Last but not least, Atlanta has great, moderate weather as well, just like the SF Bay Area!  So if you’re worried about any harsh inclement weather hampering your fun at Global Winter Wonderland, the chances of that happening are slim, with Atlanta’s wonderful climate! 

What are you waiting for? Start making your plans to hit up Global Winter Wonderland, a definite must-see for your holiday itinerary!