实用英语综合教程2Unit4

Exotic Customs for the New Year

In the US, people on the East Coast can greet the New Year by joining the crowds in Times Square in the heart of New Year city, to watch the lowering of a lighted crystal ball. Every New Year’s Eve, the prominent intersection is the meeting point of more than half a million excited celebrants. It’s at the center of everything and is known for its once-a-year role as the site of a thousand-pound ball up over the square.

It starts it downward move at 11:59 p.m. and people count along as the seconds tick away. When it reaches the bottom, a sign is lighted and people hug and kiss, and wish each other “Happy New Year”. The tradition began in 1907 and grew into a symbol of welcoming in the New Year.

The British people also have a traditional gathering in a square, Trafalgar, in central London. There’s no ball there, but thousands of people gather to hear Big Ben (the clock) announce the arrival of the New Year. The clock, which was built in 1856 and weighs 13 tons, towers over London. It’s famous for its reliability—it’s only broken down once in the past 150 years in 1975.

In addition to the big gatherings, there are New Year customs that are intended to bring good luck for the coming year. In Spain, for example, when the clock strikes mid-night on New Year’s Eve, people eat a grape with every stroke of the clock, 12 in all, to represent each month of the year. Each grape is meant to bring good luck.

The Japanese hang a rope made of straw across the front of their house to keep out evil spirits, thereby bringing happiness and good luck.

The Swiss believe that good luck comes from letting a drop of cream fall on the floor on New Year’s Day. In the past, Romanians had a tradition of listening to see whether farm animals talked on New Year’s Day. If they didn’t hear any animals talking, it was good. If any animals talked, it was bad luck.