NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS - HALLOWEEN- GUY FAWKES DAY- THANKSGIVING DAY- VALENTINE'S DAY- ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
IN NEW YORK CITY, PEOPLE MEET IN TIMES SQUARE TO WATCH A BIG CRYSTAL BALL COMING DOWN FROM THE TOP OF A TALL BUILDING. AT MIDNIGHT PEOPLE CHEER, HUG AND KISS EACH OTHER.
IN LONDON,
PEOPLE MEET IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE AND LISTEN FOR THE CHIMES OF BIG BEN
TO MARK THE START OF THE NEW YEAR. THEY CHEER AND SING A TRADITIONAL SONG:AULD
LANG SYNE.
IN SCOTLAND, PEOPLE VISIT THEIR FRIENDS' HOUSES IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE NEW YEAR, BRINGING WITH THEM SOME BREAD, SOME WHISKY AND A LUMP OF COAL FOR GOOD LUCK.
IN JAPAN, PEOPLE DECORATE THE DOORS OF THEIR HOUSES WITH PINE BRANCHES AND BAMBOO WHICH SYMBOLIZE LONG LIFE AND WEALTH.
IN KOREA,THE NEW YEAR STARTS ON JANUARY 24TH. THEY PLAY DRUMS AND GONGS TO KEEP AWAY THE EVIL SPIRITS OF THE OLD YEAR. AT THE END OF THE DAY, PEOPLE HAVE DINNER TOGETHER.
IN CHINA, PEOPLE EAT A SPECIAL KIND OF DUMPLING JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT. A COIN IS HIDDEN IN ONE OF THE DUMPLINGS. THE PERSON WHO FINDS THE COIN WILL BE THE LUCKIEST IN THE NEW YEAR.
IN GREECE, NEW YEAR'S DAY IS ALSO THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT BASIL. HE WAS FAMOUS FOR HIS KINDNESS. GREEK CHILDREN LEAVE THEIR SHOES BY THE FIRE. ON NEW YEAR'S DAY SAINT BASIL COMES AND FILLS THE SHOES WITH GIFTS.
IN GERMANY,
NEW YEAR'S EVE IS CALLED "SYLVESTER". PEOPLE DRESS UP IN THEIR
BEST CLOTHES AND VISIT EACH OTHERS' HOUSES TO DRINK A TOAST TO THE NEW YEAR.
IN SPAIN, WHEN THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT, IT IS THE CUSTOM TO EAT 12 GRAPES, ONE WITH EVERY CHIME ,TO BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE 12 MONTHS TO COME.
IN COLOMBIA, FAMILIES MAKE A DOLL REPRESENTING THE OLD YEAR.THEY STUFF IT WITH STRAW AND FIRECRACKERS. ON A PIECE OF PAPER, EVERYONE WRITES A FAULT OR A BIT OF BAD LUCK THEY WANT TO GET RID OF AND AT MIDNIGHT THEY BURN THE DOLL.
