In this issue: \\ New Year celebration around the world……… …1-2 \\ New Year in our school…….3 \\ Have Fun With English……..4 In ancient Thailand, guns were fired to frighten off demons. In China, firecrackers routed the forces of darkness. Eat Lucky Food : In the southern US, black-eyed peas and pork foretell good fortune. Eating any ring-shaped treat (such as a donut) symbolize "coming full circle" and leads to good fortune. In Dutch homes, fritters called olie bollen are served. The Irish enjoy pastries called bannocks. The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight comes from Spain. In India and Pakistan, rice promises prosperity. Apples dipped in honey are a Rosh Hashanah tradition. In Swiss homes, dollops of whipped cream, symbolizing the richness of the year to come, are dropped on the floors (and allowed to remain there!) Put Your Best Foot Forward In Scotland, the custom of first-footing is an important part of the celebration of Hogmanay, or New Year's Eve Day. This practice holds that the first foot to cross a threshold after midnight will predict the next year's fortune. Although the tradition varies, those deemed especially fortunate as "first footers" are new brides, new mothers, those who are tall and dark (and handsome?) or anyone born on January 1. Many New Year customs that we take for granted actually date from ancient times. This year, ring out the old and ring in the new with a New Year tradition—or two! In the early American colonies, the sounds of pistol shots rang through the air. Today, Italians let their church bells peal, the Swiss beat drums, and the North Americans sound sirens and party horns to bid the old year farewell. 1

New Year celebration in Las- Vegas Berlin London As Big Ben strikes midnight, London rings in the New Year with fabulous fireworks over the Thames. A huge high-spirited crowd turns out to glimpse the iconic London Eye illuminated and to see rockets blaze skywards from barges along the river. In Scotland, the New Year is called Hogmanay. In the villages of Scotland, barrels of tar are set afire and then rolled down the streets. This ritual symbolizes that the old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter The Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations are always among the most spectacular in the world. Activity focuses around a glittering Darling Harbour and the majestic Harbour Bridge, the backdrop for some of the most breathtaking fireworks you'll ever see. At New Year it's summertime in Sydney, so there's no better time to celebrate outdoors. The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in the synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time. On New Year's Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new clothes and homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo--symbols of long life. 2

New Year is a great holiday in our country. Everybody likes it very much. It is especially loved by little children. People do not go to work on that day, and children do not go to school. This holiday is considered to be a family holiday. It is usually celebrated at home among the members of the family. People decorate their houses and usually have a fir-tree which stands in the corner of the room. Those fir-trees are very beautiful. The presents are usually put under these trees. Our parents prepare to this holiday well. They buy a New Year tree, decorate it, buy a lot of tasty food and drinks. At twelve o’clock in the night people can see the president on TV which addresses them with traditional words of congratulation. At this time people are sitting at the tables to their holiday dinner and enjoy it in a good company. Young people usually organize a dance party and have a lot of fun. Some of them go out into the streets and the squares. The next day friends usually come to wish a Happy New Year to all the members of the family. The New Year of our life has begun. Everyone hopes it will really be happy. New Year is a festival that brings people together, it gives faith in something new and interesting light. Behind, remains poor, old and unnecessary. In the new year to carry only the lightest feeling good intentions, as much depends on us, what will be the coming new year and that it will bring us.. New Year in our school 3

Have Fun With English "A year has 365 days. After taking away 52 weekends; 1 day of rest and I have to do household chores on the other day, that's 104 days. Now there are only 261 days left. I need 8 hours of sleep, and in a year that adds up to 122 days so now I'm left with 141 days. We need exercise to stay healthy, so that's 1 hour a day, and suddenly 15 days are gone, which leaves me with 126 days. I need to eat, and I spend about 2 hours a day eating, that uses up 30 days, and so I'm left with 96 days. Communication is important, so say I spend 1 hour a day speaking to friends and family, that takes away 15 days more, which leaves me with 81 days. Exams and tests take up at least 35 days, so then I'm only left with 46 days. Taking off approximately 40 days for holidays, I am only left with 6 days. I will probably be ill for a minimum of 3 days, and that leaves 3 days in the year to study! Even if I only go out for 2 days. I'm left with 1 day! But that 1 day is my birthday!" 4