1. The New Year's Eve and The New Year's Day

2. The New Year's Eve
December 31 is known as Hogmanay in Scotland and New Year's Eve in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is the last day of the year, according to the Gregorian calendar, commonly used in modern times. Many people hold or attend parties in the evening to bid the old year goodbye and to welcome the new year. The past year is also thoroughly reviewed in the media, including television and newspapers.

3. What do people do?
Many people spend most of December 31 quietly. Just before midnight, people turn on a radio or television to see the countdown of the last few minutes of the old year and the display of fireworks just after midnight. At this point, people often hug and kiss each other, even strangers, and many start singing. In Scotland, the Hogmanay celebrations may last for one or two more days, as both January 1 and 2 are bank holidays. In the rest of the United Kingdom, only January 1 is a bank holiday.

4. Public life
December 31 is not a public holiday. However, schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and many people have a day off work or leave earlier than usual. Stores and post offices are generally open, but may close earlier than usual. Public transport systems may run to their usual schedule, but they may have a reduced service or close down totally in the late afternoon or evening. In some big cities, public transport services resume services around midnight to enable people attending large scale events to return home safely. Major train and bus stations may be congested as many young people travel to spend New Year's Eve and with friends.

5. Symbols
One of the most widely known symbols of New Year's Eve is the image of the Clock Tower at the Palace of Westminster, in London, counting down the last minutes of the old year. The first chimes of Big Ben, the bell housed in the Clock Tower, in the new year are broadcast live on radio and television. This is followed by a spectacular fireworks performance, often centered on the London Eye, which is claimed to be the largest Ferris wheel in Europe.

6. The New Year's Day
New Year's Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom on January 1 each year. It marks the start of the New Year in the Gregorian calendar. For many people have a quiet day on January 1.

7. What do people do?
On New Year's Day (1 January) many people turn on a television. Many people hold parties at home or go out to pubs or night clubs. Many people make New Year's resolutions. These are promises to themselves that they will lead a better life in some way in the coming year.

8. Public life
New Year's Day is a bank holiday. If January 1 is a Saturday or Sunday, the bank holiday falls on Monday, January 2 or 3. Nearly all schools, large businesses and organizations are closed. In some areas stores may be open, although this varies a lot. Public transport systems do not usually run on their normal timetables. In general, public life shuts down completely on New Year's Day.