Winter Solstice Festival

Postcard DE-3748381 from Germany arrived with a message "I love snow" on December 22 when meteorological winter starts in the Northern Hemisphere. However, there is no white Christmas in sight as the temperature at McCarran International Airport reached a record high at 22.8°C or 73°F today.

Winter Solstice Festival (冬至), one of the most important seasonal festivals celebrated in China and other East Asia countries during the winter solstice, falls on Monday, December 22 in 2014. Since the winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year, the festival celebrates the beginning of a period when the daylight hours are getting longer with an increase of positive energy pouring in from the sun. The favorite snacks during the festival are dumplings in the Northern China, wantons in the Eastern China, and red bean sweet rice cakes in the Southern China.

International Surfing Day

According to Wikipedia: "International Surfing Day, held annually on or near the date of the summer solstice — usually June 21 (June 20  on leap years) — is an unofficial, environmentally conscious sports-centered holiday that celebrates the sport of surfing and the surfing lifestyle and the sustainability of ocean resources".

However, the summer solstice was on June 20 in 2013 although it is not a leap year. Therefore, the International Surfing Day in 2013 actually falls on June 20. Nonetheless,  The events celebrating the International Surfing Day spreads from June 17 to June 23, and onto June 30, 2013. Chances are you can probably find a location near you (except in Las Vegas, where the closest ocean is more than 270 miles / 435 km away).

Fortunately, there is a huge man-made beach at the Mandalay Bay. I bought this postcard US-2255631 at Ron Jon Surf Shop in the Shoppes at Mandalay Place.