I think it was more like the sort of firework the barons used to sometimes shoot into the sky at their year-end parties.

For most young couples, Christmas is the biggest time for year-end parties.

Even so, there is likely to be the odd mistake, so that when the wrong character is used, the traditional "year-end party" becomes the "losing-all-senses party."

Later on, in the 18th century, a new word was appearing in writings and was since then was known as a bōnenkai or year-end party.

You were invited to this great year-end party and you innocently called your regular baby sitter and asked, "Are you free?"

Late last month, as Japan was working its way through year-end parties and holiday preparations, the Imperial Household Agency told the nation that the emperor, Akihito, had prostate cancer.

She won the use of an office for all of 2004 as a prize at DVC's year-end party, held at a hotel in nearby Madison.

Mr. Yamane said that the town's annual year-end party, attended by top local Nippon Steel managers, was a tense affair, where everyone avoided discussing the issue.

In June, Mr. Tonner set up a year-end party for Emerson at school.

Girls at the Center provided activities for the girls to do with their families at home, as well as projects to be completed on site, all culminating in a year-end party.