Christmas

The Manchester Christmas Markets have run out of mugs – again

We're resorting to retro mugs from previous years again.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 18th December 2023

The world-famous Manchester Christmas Markets have run out of mugs for the second year in a row, despite ordering extras to try and keep up with demand.

Manchester City Council is now resorting to using vintage mugs from previous years after completely running out of 2023’s Nutcracker design.

The festive white and blue mugs have been carrying mulled wines, hot chocolates and other winter warmers all over the Christmas Markets since they opened in November.

Visitors to the world-famous festive event are charged a £3.50 deposit (up 50p from last year’s £3 deposit) for each mug.

It’s then up to you whether you take the mug home as a souvenir of the Manchester Christmas Markets 2023, or whether you get your money back.

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And it seems like this year’s more expensive deposit hasn’t put people off, with mugs running out a week before the markets close for the year.

It means that we’ve got through 170,000 mugs this year, 30,000 more than in 2022 – quite a feat.

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There are apparently still some of the smaller blue gluhwein mugs in circulation, but they’re few and far between.

The 2022 Manchester Christmas Markets mugs. Credit: Manchester City Council
The 2022 Manchester Christmas Markets mugs. Credit: Manchester City Council
The 2017 Manchester Christmas Markets mugs. Credit: Manchester City Council
Manchester Christmas Markets 2017 mug design. Credit: Manchester City Council
Vintage and retro mugs are now being used at the Manchester Christmas Markets.

Councillor Pat Karney, Christmas spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: “The love that is out there for Manchester’s Christmas Markets and for our iconic Christmas mugs is just off the scale right now. 25 years on and people still can’t get enough of them, it’s incredible.

“Whilst this year’s fabulous Nutcracker inspired mugs are now few and far between on the markets, we’ve been bringing out the vintage mugs from Christmases past since last weekend to re-stock the stalls that have run out of this year’s.

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“And what a hit they’re proving to be with shoppers who are just loving the nostalgia of it all!

“So come on down and grab a bit of merry Manchester memorabilia while you still can – when the vintage stock goes it’s going to be jingle bells and recyclable paper cups all the way ’til the markets close.”

Manchester’s Christmas markets close on Thursday 21 December.

They are open daily until then at the following times:

  • All craft stalls 10 am – 8 pm
  • All bars and food stalls 11 am – 9 pm

The food and drink stalls in Cathedral Gardens alongside the skate rink will remain open until 31 December.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Christmas

The lyrics to Auld Lang Syne for New Year’s Eve, and what the song means

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The lyrics to New Year's Eve song Auld Lang Syne

The clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, the confetti is thrown, the kisses are exchanged, and then up starts Auld Lang Syne and you realise, once again, that you don’t know the lyrics to the iconic song.

This classic song is traditionally sung as we welcome in a new year, but you may (like us) find yourself singing the words as ‘dah daaah dah dah daaah dah dah, dah dah daaah dah Auld Lang Syne.”

Well it’s time to stop that behaviour and learn yourselves the Auld Lang Syne lyrics, quick time, before we hit 2024.

The text of the song is actually from a Robert Burns poem, penned way back in 1788 and based on an old Scottish folk song.

It was set to a tune a decade later, and since then has been recorded by dozens of different artists.

Auld Lang Syne can loosely translate as ‘old long since’, or ‘days gone by’ or ‘old times’.

So its meaning roughly is ‘for the sale of old times’.

There are longer versions of the song, but the lyrics to the most commonly-played version of Auld Lang Syne are below.

So hold hands with your loved ones, crack open the champers, and ring in a very happy new year.

What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne?

Fireworks on New Year's Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung
Fireworks on New Year’s Eve, when the song Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

And surely you will buy your cup
And surely I’ll buy mine!
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

We two have paddled in the stream
From morning sun till night
The seas between us Lord and swell
Since the days of auld lang syne

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?

For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne

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Featured image: Unsplash

Christmas

Manchester city centre road closures confirmed for New Year’s Eve fireworks display

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A number of road closures have been confirmed as Manchester city centre prepares for its first New Year’s Eve fireworks display in three years.

The hustle and bustle of Christmas has died down, Boxing Day has been and gone, nobody has a clue what day it is currently, and we’re all just waiting for New Year’s Eve to arrive, and for 2024 to bring new beginnings and a fresh start.

And case you missed it, Manchester City Council confirmed last week that Manchester will be celebrating the big occasion with a bang.

In what is the first time since 2019, and post the COVID-19 pandemic and several accompanying lockdowns, Manchester city centre is gearing up to host a “spectacular” fireworks display that will “say goodbye to the old and welcome in the new”.

Families from all across Greater Manchester are invited down to Castlefield Bowl in the heart of the city centre this Sunday 31 December for the “fun-filled event” that’s free to attend.

Manchester city centre road closures have been confirmed for the New Year’s Eve fireworks display / Credit: Unsplash

Hosted in partnership wit Hits Radio, and kicking off from 10pm and running until the clock strikes midnight and beyond, you can expect a live DJ set from Hits Radio DJ Jordan Lee, a traditional time-to-hug-all-your-friends countdown to midnight, followed by a huge firework display to celebrate the start of the new year.

Capacity for the event is 10,000, and is being operated on a first-come first-served basis, the Council has confirmed.

The event is also alcohol-free, standing only with no seating – except for disability access points and dedicated viewing areas – and anyone attending is asked to limit the bags they bring with them to no bigger than A4 in size, as bag searches will be in operation.

The Council says that, in order to ensure “a safe and celebratory event for all”, security staff will be keeping a close eye on revellers to minimise any disruption and allow everyone to see in the new year together, while being mindful that this part of the city centre has a large residential population by making sure the event arena is promptly cleared after the fireworks display is finished.

To best accommodate the event and everyone attending, the following road closures and parking suspensions have been confirmed ahead of time.

Road Closures

  • Duke Place (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Rice Street (Duke Street – Arena): 8:30pm – 12:45am (resident vehicles managed in and out of closure)
  • Liverpool Road (Potato Wharf – Lower Byrom Street): 8:30pm – 1am
  • Duke Street (Stone Street – Castle Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Beaufort Street (Collier Street – Duke Street): 11pm – 12:45am
  • Castle Street (Car Park – Canal Bridge): 11pm – 12:30am (restrictions out of car park between 11:30pm – 12:15am)

Parking Bays Suspended and ‘No Waiting’ Orders

  • Liverpool Road – 31 December, x4 bays (bays opposite Potato Wharf/Castlefield Hotel)
  • Duke Place – 31 December, x7 bays
  • Duke Street – 31 December, x4 bays
  • Beaufort Street – 31 December, x4 bays
It’s the first fireworks display in the city centre since 2019 / Credit: Alex Jones (via Unsplash)

“We think the time is now right to show how proud we are of our fantastic city, and to celebrate it as we close the door on 2023 and look ahead to 2024 and beyond,” explained Councillor Pat Karney, who is Manchester City Council’s Christmas and New Year spokesperson, as he confirmed the return of the annual new year tradition.

“Mancunians really are the best people in the world, and we can’t think of a better way of welcoming in a new year filled with new possibilities for all of us than spending it with those we love.”

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Customer access to all businesses within the closures will be maintained on the night of New Year’s Eve (31 December), Manchester City Council has confirmed.

More information about the event, and road closures planned can be found on the Council website.

Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons

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