New Year Celebrations

New Year Celebrations

Introduction People around the world celebrate the New Year at different times of the year and in many different ways. In some cultures, people celebrate with parties. In other cultures, people usher in the New Year with fascinating and unusual traditions, such as wearing yellow underwear. Many cities set off stunning fireworks displays at midnight. People around the world make resolutions for the New Year. A resolution is a promise to end a bad habit or begin a good one. It can be anything from eating healthier foods to being a better friend. Resolutions are an inspiring, positive way to greet the New Year.

North America In the United States, a New Year's Eve celebration might mean a small party with family and friends. However, in Times Square in New York City, it's estimated that a million people gather together. They count down the last minute of the year as a giant ball covered with lights drops from a tall building. Millions of people around the world watch the celebration on television. At the stroke of midnight, the crowds cheer and celebrate.

In the United States, college football teams play special games on New Year's Day. The most famous is the Rose Bowl game in Pasadena, California. Before the game, many people watch the Rose Parade. It has flower-covered floats and marching bands. At the Mummers Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, thousands of men, women, and children dress up in fancy (and sometimes ridiculous) costumes. They gather in the morning and spend the day playing music, dancing, twirling, and strutting through the city.

Central and South America Eating twelve grapes during the last twelve seconds of the year is a tradition that came to Central and South America from Spain. Each grape stands for one month of the coming year, and eating them all invites good luck. In many countries, the color of the clothes you wear on New Year's Eve is important-the color of your underwear, that is! In some places, people hoping for riches wear brand-new yellow underwear to represent gold.

The people of Peru, Panama, and Ecuador share a fascinating New Year's custom in which they make muñecos (moon-YE-kohs), or figures, out of straw, rags, and paper. People decorate the figures and parade them around on New Year's Eve. At midnight, people gather in the streets and set their munecos on fire. Burning the figures represents the release of bad memories from the past year. People hope to start the New Year without any negative reminders of the previous year.