THIS IS AMERICA - December 30, 2002: New Year's Traditions
By Jerilyn Watson
(THEME)
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.
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 says 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.
”
(MUSIC)
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.
(SOUND: BELLS RINGING)
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?
”
(MUSIC)
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.
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.
(Photo - Tournament of Roses)
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.
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.
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