READING
UNIT 5A
NEW YEAR’S CELEBRATIONS
уџ бе
ни ке
All over the world, people welcome in the New Year because it means a renewal of life. It is a time to reflect on the past and think about the future. It is one of the oldest of all holidays and we can find the origins of New Year’s celebrations with the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians, at least 4,000 years ago. According to the Julian calendar, which was established in 46 BC by Julius Caesar, January 1st is the start of a new year. In the beginning Western nations didn’t celebrate this date as a holiday. However, as Christianity spread, the church began to accept the festivities. Nowadays, most countries use the Gregorian calendar, which was designed in the 16th century. However, some Eastern Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar and New Year falls on 14th January. That’s why people in Serbia celebrate January 1st as a public holiday and January 14th, the ‘Old New Year’, as a religious holiday.
FOR LUCK IN THE NEW YEAR
За
во
д
за
Around the world, different cultures have their own traditions for welcoming in the New Year, mainly based on bringing luck. Traditionally, the food we eat is thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that eating pork, all kinds of green vegetables, or anything in the shape of a ring is good luck because it symbolizes the completion of a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating doughnuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. In England and Scotland, the old custom of first-footing is important. It is believed that the first visitor must be male, dark-haired, young and healthy because the family’s luck for the rest of the year depends on this guest. Therefore, people arrange for the right person to come. In Serbia, however, the same custom is practised on 7th January, at Christmas. In Asia, the Japanese hang a rope of straw across the front of their houses, which symbolizes happiness and good luck, to keep out evil spirits, while the Chinese give their children a red envelope which contains lucky money. All over the world, the New Year is a time for new beginnings. People give cards and gifts are exchanged. They forget all arguments because this time of year is a time to be happy and generous. Among the various New Year traditions are New Year’s Resolutions. We often say that we are ‘turning over a new leaf ’ in the New Year. Popular resolutions nowadays might include losing weight or giving up smoking.
71
