Events    By   Amira Salah-Ahmed

November 1–January 15: The Art of Medicine in Ancient Egypt, New York

Christmas in Hong Kong

The exhibition, which opened this past September at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, looks at the Ancient Egyptian artifacts connected to healing and medicine, featuring items like amulets and wands made of hippo teeth with the images of gods carved on them. The main attraction is a papyrus believed to be more than 3,000 years old and hasn’t been seen in public for more than 50 years.

courtesy Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Jammin’ at Junkanoo

November 4–12: The Whitsunday Fantasea Reef Festival 2005

Celebrating its fourth year, this non-profit community festival is sponsored by Fantasea Cruises. This year’s festival is set to impress with an events calendar encompassing all aspects of the Whitsunday lifestyle. The action-packed days include carnivals, fireworks, food, wine, comedy, live music, theater, fashions and fun for the kids.

November 4–13: National Horse Fair, Goleg?

Known until 1972 as the St. Martin’s Fair, the event takes place in conjunction with the saint’s celebrations, when bulls are run through the town and there is a parade of red-waistcoated grooms. The main event focuses on equestrian activities, with competitions, games, exhibitions and parades at the fairground and around the town. You can sample culinary treats like roasted chestnuts and barbecued chicken.

November 14–17: World Travel Market, London

This is one of the major events for the travel industry, promoting domestic, inter-regional and international travel throughout the world. This key industry event, organized by Reed Exhibitions, provides a unique opportunity for the global travel trade industry to meet, network, negotiate and conduct business.

November 20-24: 9th International Aerospace Exhibition

For the ninth year, the Aerospace Exhibition will take place in Dubai at its new home in the Airport Expo. This year will be the biggest and best, with exhibitors from about 40 countries participating. Dubai 2005 will expand the show site to accommodate the increasing demand for exhibition space, dedicated pavilions, focused conferences and increased exhibitor and visitor facilities.

November 24: Thanksgiving Day Parade, New York

The United States celebrates Thanksgiving with family gatherings, turkey feasts and American football. Although parades are held in many major cities around the country, New York’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is the biggest. The stars of the show are gigantic helium balloons representing every cartoon hero you can think of. It’s also the only one where you can find the Pink Panther, Spiderman and Woody Woodpecker.

November 30 – December 10: Cairo International Film Festival

Known as the “Hollywood of the Middle East,” Egypt’s strong cinematic tradition makes it the obvious home for the region’s largest film festival. Since its inception in 1976, the Cairo festival has enhanced the country’s strong influence on the Arab world, bringing together filmmakers and movie stars from all over the world.

December 3: Lights of Christmas Music Festival

Festivities and Christmas concerts fill Matthias Church, one of Budapest’s most famous churches, every Saturday night during the month of December. The various programs include organ works as well as choral masterpieces, the perfect way to enjoy the season and get into the Christmas spirit after all the hectic shopping in the Budapest Christmas Market.

December 11–17: Dubai International Film Festival

Showcasing the best of Arab and world cinema, the second DIFF takes place in Dubai Media City, with an aim to use the medium of film to promote international understanding, build cultural bridges, and create a platform to address important world issues. Last year’s inaugural festival showcased 76 films from 27 countries, and this year’s festival will also reflect a truly global selection of films.

December 29 – January 3: Egypt Rally, Sharm El-Sheikh

Arabia for Tourism Development, which recently created a specialized center for Motor Sport in Egypt, is organizing the Middle East’s first ever Rally for Quads (ATV’s). Amateurs and professionals will take on the desert of Sharm El-Sheikh, the hottest resort town on the Red Sea Rivera. First place winner will be awarded ¤5,000.

December 26: Junkanoo, Nassau

This colorful street parade is an all-night blowout held only on Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day. The name is believed to honor an African prince named Johnny Canoe, who came to the islands and outwitted the British. Groups work all year in secret to create two sets of costumes, made from paper, sequins, raffia and cardboard. It’s all about the music, dancing and artistry of the outfits. All night long, elaborately garbed groups stream past the judges, competing for prestige and prizes. Called ‘rushing,’ the exuberant, dancing Junkanoo march is accompanied by cowbells, bands and goatskin drums.

December 31: New Year’s Eve

Almost every major city around the world throws a huge party to ring in the New Year, so get ready to make your resolutions. Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, New York City’s Times Square, Paris’ Eiffel Tower and Sydney’s Harbor Bridge are just a few of the locations around the world where millions of people gather to countdown the last seconds of the year, and welcome 2006 with a bang. Fireworks displays, confetti, noisemakers and a lot of partying rule the night.  tt