New Year celebrations

       New Year (on January 1st) in Spain is more commonly known as "Nochevieja". Celebrations usually begin with a family dinner on New Year’s Eve. It is a tradition to eat twelve grapes — one for each stroke(钟声) of the clock at midnight. It is thought that every grape brings good luck for every month of the coming year.

       The Japanese New Year is on the first day of January. People buy decorations and put them on their doors and windows for good luck. Families make rice cakes and give money to children. At midnight, Buddhist monks(僧侣) ring bells 108 times.Then people laugh — this brings them good luck in the new year.

       In America, there is often a "ball drop" celebration[JP] during the countdown (倒计时) to the New Year. The most famous one is at Times Square in New York. From 11:59 pm on December 31st, the huge crystal ball at the top of the tower moves down slowly. Everyone counts down the final ten seconds. When the ball reaches the bottom at midnight, there are beautiful fireworks in the city centre