Out With The Old, In With The New

Get ready to say goodbye to the old , hello to the new! What’s the occasion ? The coming of the New Year.

辞旧迎新

准备好辞旧迎新! 是什么大事呢? 是新年的来临!

Many western cultures measure their days with the solar calendar. Therefore, they observe 1 the coming of the New Year on January 1. Cultures in Asia and the Middle East use other calendars, such as the more ancient lunar calendar. They celebrate the New Year at other times. Events and rituals vary from country to country. But in each place, New Year celebrations are a big deal.

Most world cultures have been celebrating the New Year for centuries. The earliest New Year celebrations took place during spring or harvest time. With better weather ahead, or plenty of food to eat in winter, people naturally felt like having a party! As the days became longer and as nature renewed itself, people also felt like they could have a new start. Past disappointments could be forgotten. The New Year could bring better fortune , more opportunities and new challenges. Such universal themes remain the same today.

许多西方国家以公历来计日。因此, 他们在1 月1 日庆祝新年的到来。亚洲和中东的国家则使用其他的历法, 如比公历还要古老的阴历, 因而在其他时间庆祝新年。每个国家 的节日和习俗都不同。但是不论在何处, 新年的庆祝活动都非常隆重。在世界绝大多数的文化里, 庆祝新年的传统已沿袭了好几百年。历史上最早的新年庆典是在春天或收获的季节举行。由于天气渐渐转暖, 或是因为冬季食物充足, 人们自然要 庆贺一番。随着白天变长, 万象更新, 人们也觉得自己应该有个新的开始。往日的不快可 以抛之脑后, 新的一年会带来更好的运气、更多的机遇和新的挑战。这些共同的主题沿袭 至今。

New Year celebrations also involve having fun. The Hogmanay festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, features2 theater events, fireworks and dancing. During Hogmanay, Scots burn torches and barrels of tar, an old practice for keeping evil spirits away. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the beach becomes the stage for a huge New Year party. During the day, thousands of people throw flowers into the sea for good luck. In the evening, they enjoy music concerts and fireworks. Everyone is supposed to wear white — the auspicious New Year color.

新年庆典也包括开心享乐。苏格兰爱丁堡的除夕节庆以戏剧演出、焰火和舞蹈为主题。在除夕夜, 苏格兰人会点燃火炬和一桶一桶的沥青, 这种传统做法是用来驱赶恶魔的。 在巴西的里约热内卢, 人们在海滩上举行大型新年晚会。白天, 数以万计的人们将鲜花抛 入海中祈求好运。傍晚时分, 他们观赏音乐会和焰火。每个人都身着白色的衣饰, 因为白 色是新年的吉祥色。