Chiang Mai, Thailand

Postcard TH-191063 from Thailand shows an elephant with texts of "Chiang Mai" forming as in circles as rays from the sun. Located 700 kilometers or 435 miles north of Bangkok, Chiang Mai is the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand. Surrounded by the highest mountains in the country, the city sits astride the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya River. The location helped Chiang Mai to gain historic importance due to its close proximity to major trading routes associated with the river.

Today marks the first day of the Songkran festival (潑水節) that is celebrated in Thailand as the traditional New Year. The festival lasts from April 13 to April 15. It coincides with the New Year of the Buddhist and Hindu solar calendar used in South and Southeast Asia. The traditional water pouring during the festival symbolizes a ritual of washing away all of the past evils and sins.

12 Months in Japan

Postcard JP-621600 from Japan shows each of the 12 months in a year and its associated custom and activity. I also found a web page that explains the names of months in Japan. Japanese people have a custom of sending New Year's Day postcards (年賀状) to update and greet their friends and relatives whom they could not meet with often in the past year. The Japanese Post Office (日本郵便) guarantees the delivery of the New Year's Day postcards on January 1 if they are posted before the deadline. Coincidentally, this card found its way to my mailbox on December 31, 2014.

Hyvää Uutta Vuotta

Postcard FI-1978040 from Finland brought fireworks and a message of "Happy New Year" to Las Vegas. Interestingly, according to wikipedia, "fireworks (other than novelties and sparklers) are sold only between Christmas and New Year in Finland, and their use is allowed only on New Year's Eve from 6pm to 2am the following morning."

New Year's Fireworks in Las Vegas

Watching fireworks shot from rooftops at multiple casinos and hotels is an annual tradition of celebrating New Year in Las Vegas. However, during 2008 and 2009, fireworks were banned from rooftops because of a rooftop fire caused by a welding accident at the Monte Carlo on January 25, 2008. As a result, 2009 New Year's Fireworks were set off at ground level on January 1, 2009. After poor reviews from visitors, fireworks returned to rooftops on January 1, 2010 with increased safety precautions.

Postcard US-2133896 to Germany shows the 2013 fireworks at Stratosphere on New Year's Day. This morning I was at Mirage where fireworks from Treasure Island and The Venetian could be seen at the same time. I will see whether I got some good pictures to make postcards.

Fröhliche Weihnachten und viel Glück im neuen Jahr

"Merry Christmas and Good Luck in the New Year" via postcard DE-2752397 from Germany. It also came with a wise quote "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams". Perfect for the New Year!

New Year's Fireworks at the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas

New Year's Fireworks at the Stratosphere Tower in Las Vegas 

Watching fireworks to ring in the New Year is perfect; Watching the fireworks shooting from a 1149-foot (350-meter)-tall tower is even better. At midnight on the New Year's Evening, fireworks were launched  from the Stratosphere Tower along with six other casinos and hotels: MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, and the Venetian. In all, more than 80,000 fireworks were on display named "America's Party" as 330,000 visitors were celebrating the beginning of 2013 in Las Vegas.

Update: This postcard was later sent as: US-2160260, US-2055998, US-2074542

A similar version was sent as US-2022384

You can customize and purchase this postcard at Zazzle.com.