2004-12-26
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VOICE ONE:
On December thirty-first, Americans and other people around the
world welcome the New Year. I'm Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember. We tell about New Year celebrations and
traditions on our report today on the VOA Special English program,
THIS IS AMERICA.
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VOICE ONE:
It is December thirty-first in New York City. Hundreds of
thousands of people are gathered in Times Square. They stand close
together, waiting in the cold darkness for midnight. That is the
time when the old year dies and the New Year is born.
The people count the seconds until the New Year arrives.
"Ten…nine…eight…" A huge glass New Year's Ball falls through the
darkness. Someone says the ball looks like thousands of burning
stars. Someone else say it looks like a huge, bright piece of snow.
When the ball reaches the ground, the New Year has begun. People
shout "Happy New Year!" They throw tiny pieces of colorful paper
into the air. They dance. They sing a traditional New Year song of
friendship called "Auld Lang Syne."
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VOICE TWO:
Each year, people arrive in Times Square while it is still
daylight. After dark, at about six o'clock, the New Year's Eve ball
is raised to its highest position. By this time thousands of people
are gathered for the celebration ahead. They say "ooh" and "aah"
when the electric company turns on the thousands of little lights in
the ball. Then everyone waits for the beautiful object to fall.
Families and friends attend this event together. People who have not
met talk as if they had known each other all their lives. Many in
the crowd jump around to keep warm.
VOICE ONE:
The first New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square took place
in nineteen-oh-four. The owners of a building on Times Square held
that first party on top of their building. Three years later, a New
Year's ball was dropped from the top of the building for the first
time.
The ball has been dropped every year except for two years during
World War Two. In nineteen-forty-two and nineteen-forty-three,
crowds still gathered in Times Square. They observed a moment of
silence. After that, bells rang from a vehicle in Times Square.
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VOICE TWO:
People do not pay to attend the Times Square celebration. But
other New Year's Eve celebrations can be costly. Many Americans
observe the holiday at public eating and drinking places.
Some people like to see the New Year arrive while traveling by
boat. For example, people in Chicago, Illinois can choose from
several special holiday trips on Lake Michigan. These cruises
include dinner and dancing to music performed by a band. In San
Diego, California, a ship company offers New Year's Eve on the
Pacific Ocean. It costs more than one-hundred dollars for each
person.
Other Americans have parties at home and invite all their
friends. Many of these events are noisy. People shout and sing. They
often blow on small noisemakers when the New Year arrives at
midnight. They kiss their husband or wife or the person they are
with. They dance to music. Other Americans spend a quiet evening at
home. They drink Champagne at midnight to welcome the New Year.
Here, the Persuasions sing "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"
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VOICE ONE:
Some people drink too much alcohol at New Year's Eve
celebrations. This can lead to tragic results if a person drinks too
much and then drives a car. The National Safety Council says
hundreds of people die in road accidents during the holiday.
In recent years, the danger of accidents has resulted in a new
tradition called the "designated driver." One person among a group
of friends drinks little or no alcohol during New Year's Eve
celebrations. Then this designated driver can safely drive the other
people home. Many American cities also offer free taxi service on
New Year's Eve to take people home safely.
VOICE TWO:
Other Americans observe the coming of the New Year at events
without alcohol. More than two-hundred-twenty American cities hold
these First Night celebrations. Artists in Boston, Massachusetts
started the tradition of First Night celebrations in
nineteen-seventy-six. They wanted to observe the coming of a New
Year. But they did not want to hold noisy drinking parties. So they
organized music, art and other events to observe the holiday.
People in Boston can choose among two-hundred-fifty performances
and exhibits around the city. People can look at huge statues made
of ice. Families can watch fireworks early in the evening. Later,
fireworks light the midnight sky over Boston Harbor.
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VOICE ONE:
After the celebrations of New Year's Eve, New Year's Day is often
a quiet day for many Americans. Many people spend the first day of
the New Year at home. Some watch football games on television. Some
of the top university teams play in these games.
The most famous of these Bowl games is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena,
California. The Tournament of Roses parade includes many vehicles
called "floats." The floats are covered completely with paper or
flowers. Businesses, social groups, universities and the city
government pay thousands of dollars to build these floats. Millions
of people watch the colorful event on television.
VOICE TWO:
Another famous parade takes place on the opposite side of the
nation, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This city holds a yearly
Mummers Parade on New Year's Day. The Mummers make unusual costumes
to wear. They cover their faces with masks. They march through the
city and play musical instruments.
VOICE ONE:
Sometimes families invite friends to visit them on New Year's
Day. They serve drinks and food at these open houses and wish
everyone a good year.
In some parts of the country, American children and adults still
follow an ancient custom on January first. They go from house to
house singing to friends and neighbors. Americans borrowed this
tradition from ancient peoples in what is now Britain and Europe.
One popular song wishes people love and joy in the New Year.
VOICE TWO:
Many Americans follow traditions meant to bring good luck in the
New Year. Some people wear special clothes or eat special foods. For
example, men and women who want to find their true love wear yellow
clothing. Others carry silver in hopes of finding money.
People in many parts of the United States celebrate the New Year
by eating black-eyed peas. Cabbage is another vegetable that people
eat to bring good luck and money. In the South, people prepare and
eat a traditional food called Hoppin' John. It contains peas,
onions, bacon and rice. It has this unusual name because long ago
children were said to like it so much they hopped around the room
while waiting for it to cook.
Asian-Americans sometimes make traditional fortune cookies. These
sweets contain small pieces of paper telling about a person's
future. Some Americans from Spanish-speaking families follow a
tradition for the New Year that involves fruit. On January First,
they stand on a chair and eat grapes.
Whatever you do celebrate the New Year, we wish you a very happy
one.
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VOICE ONE:
This program was written by Jerilyn Watson. It was produced by
Cynthia Kirk. I'm Mary Tillotson.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another report
about life in the United States on the VOA Special English program,
THIS IS AMERICA.