Ringing in the New Year

Ringing in the New Year

By J Bravo

celebrate (verb) to mark a special day

 

growth (noun) changing from something that is small to something that is big

 

sour (adjective) to have a bad taste

 

sprout (verb) to start to grow

 

tradition (noun) something special that people have been doing for a long time

People all over the world celebrate the start of a new year. Many have special traditions. In the United States, some people eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. These are said to bring good luck. Here's a taste of some other New Year's traditions.

​Rounding Up Luck

In some countries, people eat round fruits to welcome a new year. Round foods stand for good fortune and money.

In Spain, people often eat grapes on New Year's Eve. They gobble 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. But there's a catch to this tradition. If you don't eat them all, your rich new year could go sour!

​Making a Splash

Many New Year's traditions make a real splash. The Polar Bear Plunge is one of them. This tradition takes place on New Year's Day in the U.S. and Canada. What do people do? They jump into icy cold seas. Most say the Polar Bear Plunge began in 1903 in New Jersey. People in Canada took up the tradition in 1920. Talk about a cool way to start the year!

If you live in Brazil, the beach is the place to be on New Year's Eve. But there's good news for those who live in this country: It's summertime in January. Many people wear white and walk to the water at midnight. Then they jump over seven waves. They make a wish for each one.

​Playing with Food

The Irish have a special New Year's tradition. What is it? They bang the walls inside their home with a loaf of bread. This tradition is meant to chase away bad luck. Others in Ireland scrub their homes from top to bottom. It makes for a clean start to the new year.

In Greece, onions represent growth. That's because these vegetables can sprout on their own. Many Greeks hang an onion on their doors to ring in the new year. This is said to bring long life.

For many, the start of a new year is fun. We remember the past and hope for good things to come. Do you celebrate in a special way?