Reading Comprehension: New Year’s Eve
Develop your reading skills. Read the following text about New Year’s Eve and do the comprehension task.
Celebrating New Beginnings: The Global Festivities of New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve, also known as Old Year’s Night, marks the culmination of the year on December 31st, with celebrations held worldwide. This festive occasion is characterized by lively parties, social gatherings, and spectacular displays of fireworks and noise-making.
In the United States, New York City’s Times Square is synonymous with New Year’s Eve festivities – The lagest in the USA. Crowds gather in anticipation, counting down the seconds until midnight when the iconic “ball dropping” ceremony signifies the start of the new year.
Similar revelries take place across the globe, each with its own unique traditions. In France, New Year’s Eve is known as le Réveillon, marked by elaborate feasts featuring special culinary delights and champagne toasts. Parisians flock to the Eiffel Tower to witness dazzling fireworks illuminating the night sky.
In Japan, the arrival of the new year is heralded by a deep cleansing of homes and communities. At midnight, Buddhist temple bells are solemnly rung 108 times, symbolizing the eradication of human desires and the attainment of enlightenment.
Meanwhile, in Brazil, the vibrant beach of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro hosts one of the world’s most renowned fireworks displays. Tens of thousands gather to witness the dazzling spectacle, set against the backdrop of the iconic coastline.
Beyond the festivities, New Year’s Eve holds a deeper significance for many as a time for reflection and renewal. It is customary for individuals to make resolutions, pledging to make positive changes or pursue personal goals in the coming year. These resolutions serve as a commitment to self-improvement and growth, with the intention of carrying them through to fulfillment.
New Year’s Eve embodies the spirit of hope, optimism, and new beginnings, uniting people around the world in celebration as they bid farewell to the old year and welcome the promise of the new.
Source: Wikipedia
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