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13. Out With The Old, In With The New
Get ready to say goodbye to the old , hello to the new! What’s the occasion ? The coming of the New Year.
Many western cultures measure their days with the solar calendar. Therefore, they observe 1 the coming of the New Year on January 1. Cultures in Asia and the Middle East use other calendars, such as the more ancient lunar calendar. They celebrate the New Year at other times. Events and rituals vary from country to country. But in each place, New Year celebrations are a big deal.
Most world cultures have been celebrating the New Year for centuries. The earliest New Year celebrations took place during spring or harvest time. With better weather ahead, or plenty of food to eat in winter, people naturally felt like having a party! As the days became longer and as nature renewed itself, people also felt like they could have a new start. Past disappointments could be forgotten. The New Year could bring better fortune , more opportunities and new challenges. Such universal themes remain the same today.
New Year celebrations also involve having fun. The Hogmanay festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, features2 theater events, fireworks and dancing. During Hogmanay, Scots burn torches and barrels of tar, an old practice for keeping evil spirits away. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the beach becomes the stage for a huge New Year party. During the day, thousands of people throw flowers into the sea for good luck. In the evening, they enjoy music concerts and fireworks. Everyone is supposed to wear white — the auspicious New Year color.
Some cultures have unusual New Year traditions. Italians throw old things out of their windows at midnight, symbolizing the departure of the old. Mexicans fire guns into the air to ward off misfortune. Danes jump off chairs exactly as the clock strikes midnight, so they can“jump”into the New Year. Greek children leave their shoes by the fireplace on New Year’s Day. They hope Saint Basil3, a popular Greek saint known for his kindness, will come and fill the shoes with gifts. In Vancouver, Canada, some people celebrate the New Year by jumping into the ocean . The water there is freezing cold! Therefore the event has been aptly named the Polar Bear Swim4. As you might expect, most people come to watch the swimmers rather than swim themselves
London, England, hosts an annual New Year’s Day parade that draws nearly a million spectators. The largest parade in Europe , it features bands, floats and enormous balloons. These balloons are so huge that they tower over5 nearby buildings!
閱讀自測
Ⅰ. Fill in the blanks with proper words :
1. Therefore, they_______ ( 慶祝) the coming of the New Year on January 1.
2. As the days became longer and as nature_______ ( 更新) itself, people also_______ ( 想要) they could have a new start.
3. Everyone is supposed to wear white — the _______( 吉祥的) New Year color.
4. London, England, hosts an annual New Year’s Day parade that draws nearly a million_______ ( 觀眾) .
5. The largest parade in Europe, it_______ ( 以……為特色) bands, floats and enormous balloons. These balloons are so huge that they_______ ( 高于) nearby buildings!
Ⅱ. Answer the following question in you own words:
Why did the earliest New Year celebrations take place during spring or harvest time?
