閱讀筆記 R5150 Happy New Year!

Reading 5150
Happy New Year!
How does your family welcome in the New Year?
1 New Year’s celebrations are a little bit different all around the world. They are celebrated with different customs, traditions, and special foods. They may even be observed at different times of the year. One similarity is that they are all marked by a celebration and a symbolic welcoming of the new year while saying farewell to the old.
2 ln the United States, we use the Julian calendar, created by Emperor Julius Caesar. Celebrations usually begin on December 31, or New Year’s Eve, and continue on into January 1, the first day of the new year.
3 Probably the most famous American celebration takes place in New York City’s Times Square. A large crowd gathers below the 1,070-pound crystal ball that measures six feet in diameter. At 11:59 P.M. the ball is lowered. It reaches the bottom of the tower at the stroke of midnight, and the crowd erupts into cheers and exclamations of good wishes. Many people watch the ball drop on television during their own New Year’s celebrations. It is common for people to count down to the new year as they watch the ball drop.
4 Making New Year’s resolutions is another popular American tradition. Many people see the beginning of a new year as the time to make changes or have a fresh start. New Year’s resolutions can serve as promises or reminders to oneself of changes and improvements to be made over the course of the upcoming year.
5 Black-eyed peas, ham, and cabbage are traditional dishes to serve on New Year’s Day. They are symbols of good luck and prosperity for the coming year. People in other countries also have New Year’s traditions surrounding food. For example, the Dutch often eat doughnuts to welcome in the New Year. Because doughnuts are shaped like a circle, they are thought to symbolize the completion of a cycle—the beginning of a new year and ending of the previous year.
6 In Japan, people eat long soba noodles in celebration. Eating these noodles without breaking them symbolizes long life. In Spain, there is the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight. This marks successful grape harvests of the past and the hope for more in the future.
7  One of the most colorful New Year’s celebrations takes place in China and at Chinese festivals around the world. The Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar, and falls between January 2l and February 19. The festival lasts about two weeks. During this time, towns are decorated with colorful lanterns and flowers. People thoroughly clean their homes to symbolize getting rid of the misfortunes of the previous year. Parades and fireworks mark the festivities, and seafood and dumplings are traditionally eaten.
8  The next time January 1 approaches, take some time to consider the events of the previous year. Think about your goals and hopes for the next year. Maybe you can even start a new tradition with your family and friends to welcome in each new year!