John's ESL Holidays: New Year's Eve

New Year's celebrations in America always begin on the night of December 31, New Year's Eve. On this night people stay up until at least mid-night so they can welcome in the New Year. New Year's Eve is celebrated by going to parties and making lots of noise, especially at the strike of mid-night. The tradition of making noise at mid-night has its roots in acient days when people believed that the noise scared away evil spirits that roamed the earth on this night.

In the early history of America, the new year was observed on March 25 until January 1, 1753. This is because of the calender in use then. In 1752, England and America adopted the Gregorian calander after deciding that the Julian calander was not accurate. Scotland had been using the Gregoian calendar since sometime in 1600 and the Pope adopted it in 1582.

Now in America the biggest block party of the year happens in New York City's Times Square. Millions of people gather every year to watch the Ball Drop as they count down to mid-night. At mid-night everyone yells HAPPY NEW YEAR. Some people shake hands while others kiss and embrass. The party in Times Square is always televised so the people who can't make to New York can join the celebration from their homes.

On New Year's Day it is costom for people to eat black-eyed peas for luck for the coming year. hey also look forward to the new year by making new year resolutions. New year resolutions are goals that they want to achieve in the new year. New Year's day is also a time to relax family and friends. The Tournament of Roses, a parade in Pasadena, California, is watch by millions of people, either in person or on television. The floats in the Tournament of Roses are known for the beautiful flowers that are used to make the floats. After the parade the most famous college football game in America, the Rose Bowel, is played.

There are many folktales associated with New Year's Day. Here's a few from Tennessee, my home state.

If you wash your clothes on New Year's Day, you will wash someone out of your family.

If a women comes to see you on New Year's Day, the chickens will all be pullets; if a man comes, they will all be roosters.

On New Year's night, place a gold band in a glass of water, go into a dark cellar, and you will see your husband's picture in the bottom of the glass.