18 (12)
What happens on New
Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the
US
!
(January 3, 2003)
The most
popular Japanese TV show on New Year's Eve, "KouHaku Utagatsusen"
(song competition: male pop & Enka (Country) singers vs. female)
corresponds to "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2003" in the US.
"Joya-no-kane (bell)" (the watch-night bell) in
Japan
is similar to countdowns, fireworks, confetti, and noises using noise
makers and car horns.
These two days are not as big
as Christmas Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Independence Day. But New Year's Day
signals the end of the
Holiday
season, which starts on Thanksgiving
< http://www.exploreamerica.info/what_letter_English_11.htm
>.
New Year's Eve activities:
People often go out to a bar,
restaurant, or house party with friends or relatives. Some people may drink too
much, but others simply have a glass of champagne to toast the New Year, and
some have no alcohol. The parties may have confetti bombs, hats, and
noisemakers.
confetti < http://www.confetti.co.uk/shopping/newshop/searchresults.asp?cat=220
>
noise makers < http://masters-of-sound.makesparties.com/catalog/template.php3?sub_event=263&event=7
>
TV programs often review events
of the past year. As 12:00
midnight
approaches, most people watch TV
to see when the official start of the New Year is.
Traditionally people watch Dick
Clark on TV as the ball lowers in Times Square
to signal the New Year. Dick
Clark will host "Dick Clark's 31st New Year's Rockin' Eve 2003". This
is the most popular TV show for New Year's Eve. Besides the Big Apple (
New York
) , many large cities hold special
events.
Las Vegas,
Atlanta,
Minneapolis, and others will host events.
Some light fireworks (photo examples < http://www.exploreamerica.info/Photo_Gallery_01_New_Years_Eve_2002.htm
>) to celebrate the New
Year.
At
midnight
, noisy people at parties might
kiss each other, and people on the street use noise makers and cars blow horns.
Some people make New Year's resolutions. The most common resolution is to lose
weight, so fitness gyms get many new clients in January.
Once midnight is past people begin to sing the song: "Auld Lang
Syne" (spoken poem: < http://www.yourscottishname.com/poemsofburns/poems/auld_lang_syne2_marq.htm
> music: < http://wilstar.com/xmas/auldlangsyne.htm
> )
Because the USA is such a large country that spans several time zones, All
Americans can't celebrate the new year at the same time. For Minnesota, it'll be only
11:00 p.m.
in 2002 when
New York
crosses into 2003, while for
those in California
and in Hawaii
it will be 9:00 p.m.
and
7:00 p.m.
respectively. This
may seem strange to some Japanese who grew up in Japan.
New Year's Day activities:
People tend to sleep in after
the late parties.
There are college football
Bowl games < http://www.exploreamerica.info/what_letter_Jpn_S_3_121302.htm
>, and parades related to
the Bowl games such as the Florida Citrus Bowl Parade in Orlando,
Florida
and the Rose Parade in Pasadena,
California.
Some families and friends may
get together and play games, watch football (Bowl games), and relax.
Cards, Yahtzee, Monopoly,
Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, Risk, and Trouble are popular games. Of course,
computer games and video games are also popular.
Christmas decorations often remain past New Year's Day. There are no special
meals for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
Just Curious!
Q: People don't go to church on New Year's Day, do they?
A: Yes, There is church on New Year's Day. I don't think this mass is nearly as
attended as Christmas Day mass but it is still a day that Catholics are supposed
to go to church. (I'll probably go on New Year's Eve)
Other Sites relating to New
Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day < http://www.exploreamerica.info/whatsnew_Stuff123102_New_Years_Eve_Sites.htm
>
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