THIS IS AMERICA - What Are You Doing on New Year's Eve?

THIS IS AMERICA - What Are You Doing on New Year's Eve?
By Jerilyn Watson

Broadcast: Monday, December 26, 2005

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Faith Lapidus. Two thousand six is just about here. Today we look at some of the ways that Americans celebrate the New Year.

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VOICE ONE:

In America, the best-known¹ place to be on December thirty-first is Times Square in New York City. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in the cold. They crowd together and wait for midnight. It feels like a huge party.

 
Celebrating New Year's 2005 in Times Square
The people count down the final seconds. "Ten … nine … eight … " All eyes watch a huge glass ball as it slides down a pole on top of a tall building. Someone in the crowd says it looks like a bright piece of snow. Someone else says it looks like thousands of stars. This is a famous Times Square tradition.

VOICE TWO:

When the ball reaches bottom, it is twelve o'clock. People shout "Happy New Year!" There is lots of excitement. More than a ton of confetti, little pieces of paper, rains down on the crowd.

The crowd does its duty and tries to sing "Auld² Lang Syne," a traditional song of friendship at the New Year. Most people only know the first few words. The song is pretty much a mystery. But a fun mystery.

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

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 celebration³ ahead.

They ooh and aah when the thousands of little lights in the ball come on. Then everyone waits for midnight. People who have never met talk as if they have known each other all their lives. Visitors from around the world are excited to experience this New York moment.

VOICE TWO:

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 the roof of their building. Three years later, a New Year's ball joined the celebration.

The ball has been dropped every year except for two years during World War Two. In nineteen forty-two and 'forty-three, crowds still gathered in Times Square, but there was little to celebrate.

VOICE ONE:

Lots of Americans will be out someplace special for dinner and dancing on New Year's Eve. Some people like to be on a boat when the New Year arrives.

In Chicago, Illinois, for example, people can choose from several special holiday trips on Lake Michigan. These cruises⁴ include dinner and dancing to music performed by a band.

Two hours later, midnight will reach the West Coast. In Southern California⁵, some people will be out on boats in the Pacific Ocean.

VOICE TWO:

Some Americans will have parties at home and invite all their friends.

(SOUND)

And no party will be complete without noisemakers -- and a traditional midnight kiss.

Other people will spend a quiet evening at home. They might even be asleep when the clock strikes midnight.

Now for a musical question -- Nancy Wilson asks, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

(MUSIC)

VOICE ONE:

Some people do too much on New Year's Eve. To reduce the number of alcohol⁶-related traffic accidents, people will be urged⁷ to use a designated⁸ driver. This is one person who drinks little or no alcohol while out with friends. That way the designated driver can safely drive the other people home.

In many cities, free tax service will be offered to take people home if they have been drinking.

VOICE TWO:

Many cities will also hold what are called First Night celebrations⁹. These are events without any alcohol. Local artists in Boston, Massachusetts, organized First Night celebrations in nineteen seventy-six.

People in Boston can choose among hundreds of performances and exhibits¹⁰ 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.

VOICE ONE:

After the celebrations on New Year's Eve, New Year's Day is often a quiet day.

Many people spend the first day of the New Year at home. Some watch football games on television. Millions like to watch the college game traditionally¹¹ played in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Day.

This year, the big game will be played on January fourth. The Rose Bowl Game will serve as the national championship game in college football. The University of Southern California will play the University of Texas Longhorns. The Trojans of Southern California are the two-time defending national champions.

VOICE TWO:

The Rose Bowl Game traditionally follows the Rose Parade¹² in Pasadena. The parade is a show of motor-driven floats covered in flowers. They make a beautiful sight.

But the one hundred seventeenth Rose Parade will take place this year on Monday, January second. That is because January first is a Sunday. When that happens, the parade takes place on the following day.

VOICE ONE:

Some people invite friends to their home to visit on New Year's Day. In some parts of the country, children and adults still follow an old custom from Europe on January first. They go from house to house singing to friends and neighbors.

One popular song wishes people love and joy in the New Year. Listen now as the Christ¹³ Church Cathedral¹⁴ Choir¹⁵ sings the "Wassail Song, " arranged¹⁶ by Gustav Holst.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Many Americans follow traditions that they hope will bring them good luck in the New Year. Some start the year by eating black-eyed peas¹⁷ or cabbage.

In the South, some people prepare a traditional food called Hoppin' John. It contains peas, onions, bacon¹⁸ and rice. Children long ago were said to like it so much, they hopped¹⁹ around the room while waiting for it to cook.

VOICE ONE:

Asian-Americans might eat fortune cookies at the New Year. Fortune cookies contain small pieces of paper with a short message telling about a person's future.

And there are other things people do to celebrate the New Year. Some Latinos, for example, stand on a chair and eat grapes.

Whatever you do to welcome the New Year, we wish you a very happy two thousand six.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Caty Weaver²⁰. I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Steve Ember. Internet users²¹ can read and listen to our programs at www.tingroom.com. Please join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English.

1 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

2 auld   

adj.老的，旧的

参考例句：

• Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?怎能忘记旧日朋友，心中能不怀念？
• The party ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Sync.宴会以《友谊地久天长》的歌声而告终。

3 celebration   

n.庆祝，庆祝会；典礼

参考例句：

• The celebration passed off successfully.庆祝活动圆满结束。
• The celebration of Christmas is a custom.庆祝圣诞节是一种习俗。

4 cruises   

v.乘船巡游( cruise的第三人称单数 )；以快而平稳的速度长距离行驶；巡航；轻而易举赢得（或获得）

参考例句：

• Cruises on the Thames in London, have become an annual attraction. 在伦敦泰晤士河上的巡航已成为一年一度的引人注目的事。 来自辞典例句
• Throughout the year traders and recruiters arrive from far, dry cruises. 一年到头，总有商人和募工者经过干渴的长途航行来到这里。 来自辞典例句

5 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

6 alcohol   

n.酒精，乙醇；含酒精的饮料

参考例句：

• The law forbids shops to sell alcohol to minors.法律禁止商店向未成年者出售含酒精的饮料。
• The alcohol is industrial.这些酒精是供工业用的。

7 urged   

v.力劝( urge的过去式和过去分词 )；强烈要求；推进；驱策

参考例句：

• She urged him to stay. 她力劝他留下。
• Urged on by the PM the police tried to end the strike. 在首相的敦促下，警方力图终止罢工。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 designated   

a.指定的，特指的

参考例句：

• Smoking is allowed in designated areas.允许在指定区域内吸烟。

9 celebrations   

n.庆祝( celebration的名词复数 )；庆祝会（仪式）

参考例句：

• The mayor was there to dignify the celebrations. 市长的光临为庆祝活动增辉。
• Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee celebrations 维多利亚女王登基50周年庆典

10 exhibits   

v.陈列，展览( exhibit的第三人称单数 )；表现；显示；[法律]当庭出示（证件、物证等）

参考例句：

• Many exhibits with characteristics of the Chinese art are on display. 许多具有中国艺术特色的展品陈列出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One is dazzled by the endless array of beautiful exhibits. 展品琳琅满目，美不胜收。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 traditionally   

adv.传说地；传统地

参考例句：

• Traditionally,people clean the house before the Spring Festival.传统上，人们在春节前打扫房子。
• Medicine is traditionally the first of the Nobel prizes awarded each year.根据传统，医学奖是诺贝尔奖每年颁发的第一个奖项。

12 parade   

n.游行，炫耀，阅兵，检阅，阅兵场；v.游行，炫耀，夸耀，（使）列队行进

参考例句：

• She is on parade in her new dress in the street.她穿着新衣服在大街上走来走去。
• The boys loved watching the soldiers on parade.男孩子们爱看士兵们列队行进。

13 Christ   

n.基督，救世主，耶稣

参考例句：

• I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
• Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。

14 cathedral   

n.教区总教堂；大教堂

参考例句：

• We visited the magnificent cathedral.我们参观了宏伟的教堂。
• There's a cathedral in the town.镇里有一座大教堂。

15 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

16 arranged   

adj.安排的v.安排，准备( arrange的过去式和过去分词 )；把…（系统地）分类；整理；改编（剧本等）

参考例句：

• The party was arranged quickly. 聚会很快就安排好了。
• Chairs in rows are not as conducive to discussion as chairs arranged in a circle. 椅子成排摆放不如成圈摆放便于讨论。

17 peas   

豌豆

参考例句：

• My little sister picked up many green peas in the field. 小妹从田野里拾到许多豌豆。
• The twin brothers are as like as two peas. 那两个兄弟毫无二致。

18 bacon   

n.咸肉，熏肉

参考例句：

• He is frying the bacon.他在煎咸肉。
• This bacon is too salty for me.这块熏咸猪肉我觉得太咸了。

19 hopped   

跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花

参考例句：

• He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
• He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

20 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

21 users   

用户，使用者( user的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new software will prove a boon to Internet users. 这种新软件将会对互联网用户大有益处。
• Ramps should be provided for wheelchair users. 应该给轮椅使用者提供坡道。