English Club

• Name

• What animal from chinese zodiac are you?

• How will you plan to celebrate this NY?

• What NY do you have?

• Your NY wishes to the previous speaker

New Year Resolution A New Year resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to one or more lasting personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit. According to Gretchen Rubin (author of best-seller "The Happiness Project"): "You hit a goal, you achieve a goal. You keep a resolution".

This lifestyle change is generally interpreted as advantageous. A New Years Resolution is generally a goal someone sets out to accomplish in the coming year. Some examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more environmentally responsible. A key element to a New Years Resolution that sets it apart from other resolutions is that it is made in anticipation of the New Year, and new beginnings.

Popular goals include resolutions to: -Improve health: lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking

-Improve finances: get out of debt, save money

-Improve career: get a better job

-Improve education: improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music) -Improve self: become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television

-Take a trip

-Volunteer to help others

Chinese zodiac (Sheng Xiao)

Legend

A long time ago in China, the Jade emporer decided that there shold be a way for measuring time. On the day of his birthday, he told all of the animals that there was going to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals that would finish the race across the fast flowing river would recieve medals, and would have a year of the zodiac named after them…

Wu Xing

This Calendar is connection with

Elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. So there are 12 animals and 5 elements In Chinese horoscope. Multiply this numbers we get full cycle of 60 years.

2012 will be a year of black water dragon

NY Traditions around the world

A dangerous Scottish festival around the New Year is the festival of Hogmanay. The Hogmanay Festival is a New Year celebration with a dash of Scottish flair. This festival takes place on the 31st of December every year. Men parade through the streets holding blazing balls of fire. They continuously swing these balls over their heads. According the the locals, the balls of fire bring purification and sunshine. This celebration dates back as far as the Vikings.

NY Traditions around the world

A strange and weird Danish New Year tradition is throwing breakable dishes at neighbor’s door. Strangely this makes them happy instead of annoying them. The family with the most huge tower of broken plates, glasses, cups and other crockery is considered to be the most lucky one because it means that they have lots of loyal friends.

NY Traditions around the world

Talca is a small town in Chile with a very strange, weird and freaky New Year custom. The people of Talca are celebrating the new year with their dead relatives for the past 15 years. The doors of the cemetery are opened for the local public by the Town’s mayor at 11 pm sharp. People are welcomed in the cemetery with light classical music and dim blinking lights making the cemetery are perfect party place.

NY Traditions around the world

South America - Residents all wear brightly colored underpants. Those who wear red, are hoping for love in the new year. Those who chose to wear yellow, are wishing for money. Spain - At midnight, Spaniards consume 12 grapes and try to consume all of them by the time the clock stops chiming. Puerto Rico - When it’s New Year’s Eve in Puerto Rico, they throw buckets of water out the window to “clean” the old year out. They also clean their homes and decorate them, as it is supposed to symbolize the “cleaning” of the spirit.

NY wishes

Tradition wish is “Happy New Year” – you can tell it to someone, send it in sms or write in the greeting card

There will be no English Club at January 1st and 8th

because of holidays