In this issue: \\ New Year celebration around the
world........1-2 \\ New Year in our school.3 \\ Have Fun With
English..4 In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off
demons. In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness. Eat
Lucky Food : In the southern US, black-eyed peas and pork foretell
good fortune. Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut)
symbolize "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune. In Dutch
homes, fritters called olie bollen are served. The Irish enjoy
pastries called bannocks. The tradition of eating 12 grapes at
midnight comes from Spain. In India and Pakistan, rice promises
prosperity. Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah tradition.
In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness
of the year to come, are dropped on the floors (and allowed to
remain there!) Put Your Best Foot Forward In Scotland, the custom
of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of
Hogmanay, or New Year's Eve Day. This practice holds that the first
foot to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next
year's fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed
especially fortunate as "first footers" are new brides, new
mothers, those who are tall and dark (and handsome?) or anyone born
on January 1. Many New Year customs that we take for granted
actually date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and
ring in the new with a New Year traditionor two! In the early
American colonies, the sounds of pistol shots rang through the air.
Today, Italians let their church bells peal, the Swiss beat drums,
and the North Americans sound sirens and party horns to bid the old
year farewell. 1
Slide 2
New Year celebration in Las- Vegas Berlin London As Big Ben
strikes midnight, London rings in the New Year with fabulous
fireworks over the Thames. A huge high-spirited crowd turns out to
glimpse the iconic London Eye illuminated and to see rockets blaze
skywards from barges along the river. In Scotland, the New Year is
called Hogmanay. In the villages of Scotland, barrels of tar are
set afire and then rolled down the streets. This ritual symbolizes
that the old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter
The Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations are always among the most
spectacular in the world. Activity focuses around a glittering
Darling Harbour and the majestic Harbour Bridge, the backdrop for
some of the most breathtaking fireworks you'll ever see. At New
Year it's summertime in Sydney, so there's no better time to
celebrate outdoors. The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It
is a holy time when Jews recall the things they have done wrong in
the past, and then promise to do better in the future. Special
services are held in the synagogues, children are given new clothes
and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time. On
New Year's Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new clothes
and homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo--symbols of
long life. 2
Slide 3
New Year is a great holiday in our country. Everybody likes it
very much. It is especially loved by little children. People do not
go to work on that day, and children do not go to school. This
holiday is considered to be a family holiday. It is usually
celebrated at home among the members of the family. People decorate
their houses and usually have a fir-tree which stands in the corner
of the room. Those fir-trees are very beautiful. The presents are
usually put under these trees. Our parents prepare to this holiday
well. They buy a New Year tree, decorate it, buy a lot of tasty
food and drinks. At twelve oclock in the night people can see the
president on TV which addresses them with traditional words of
congratulation. At this time people are sitting at the tables to
their holiday dinner and enjoy it in a good company. Young people
usually organize a dance party and have a lot of fun. Some of them
go out into the streets and the squares. The next day friends
usually come to wish a Happy New Year to all the members of the
family. The New Year of our life has begun. Everyone hopes it will
really be happy. New Year is a festival that brings people
together, it gives faith in something new and interesting light.
Behind, remains poor, old and unnecessary. In the new year to carry
only the lightest feeling good intentions, as much depends on us,
what will be the coming new year and that it will bring us.. New
Year in our school 3
Slide 4
Have Fun With English "A year has 365 days. After taking away
52 weekends; 1 day of rest and I have to do household chores on the
other day, that's 104 days. Now there are only 261 days left. I
need 8 hours of sleep, and in a year that adds up to 122 days so
now I'm left with 141 days. We need exercise to stay healthy, so
that's 1 hour a day, and suddenly 15 days are gone, which leaves me
with 126 days. I need to eat, and I spend about 2 hours a day
eating, that uses up 30 days, and so I'm left with 96 days.
Communication is important, so say I spend 1 hour a day speaking to
friends and family, that takes away 15 days more, which leaves me
with 81 days. Exams and tests take up at least 35 days, so then I'm
only left with 46 days. Taking off approximately 40 days for
holidays, I am only left with 6 days. I will probably be ill for a
minimum of 3 days, and that leaves 3 days in the year to study!
Even if I only go out for 2 days. I'm left with 1 day! But that 1
day is my birthday!" 4