Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

romi · Joined: 17 May 2004 Posts: 3 Location: Japan

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Hello!! I'm Japanese girl.
I sarch about New Year's Holidays in the world !

In Japan, there are traditional foods.
For example foods prepared for New Year's, rice cake and so on.
And there are many plays.
For example Karuta, let out a kite and so on.
Many of the Japanese visit a shrine on a New Year's Day, and send someone a New Year's card.

What do you do on New Year's Holidays in your country ?
Please teach me !!

lymekaps · Joined: 14 Dec 2004 Posts: 1

I'm from the US. In this country, many people go out to club, restaurants or parties on New Year's Eve.

There are no traditional foods that I know of, at least in my part of the US (I live in the East, not far from New York). Perhaps in some parts of the country this may be done. However, the traditional drink everywhere is champagne. Everyone toasts at midnight.

In New York City, there is a large celebration in Times Square where at midnight a large ball covered with lights drops down to mark the new year. This is also shown on TV. There are many other shows on TV that night featuring music for people who are celebrating at home.

New Year's Day is a national holiday in the US. It's mainly just a day off from work and school.

Hope this helps!!

Hiroko. H · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Posts: 6

Hello!I'm Japanese student. Smile

I want to know how you spend Christmas Holiday.
Especially ASIA.
Please tell me!

Force_9 · Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 63 Location: Oregon

Romi,
I too am from the US....Oregon, to be exact. My family celebrates New Year's Day by playing games and drinking champagne until midnight, at which time we make a lot of noise and celebrate the new year.

@Hiroko
my family will buy a "christmas tree" a few weeks before Christmas Day, and we will place many traditional decorations all over the house. On Christmas Day, we read about how Jesus was born many years ago on the first Christmas night, and then we open our gifts. I can write more detail for you if you like...there are many more traditions that will take a long time to tell you.
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rborsoi · Joined: 15 Nov 2004 Posts: 23 Location: Milan Italy

On new year day we stay whith friends not whith family.
We eat Cotechino with lentils because hear in Italy we think that lentils on new Years day carrie money.
We play cards until midnigth and at midnigth we go out and we gun artificials fire.

The party will continue about until the 6 o clock of first jennary.
Bye and happy new Year from Italy