At midnight on 31 st December British people celebrate the coming of the new year, by holding hands in a large circle and singing the song: Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? And never brought to mind? Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And auld lang syne? And auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, For auld lang syne, We`ll take a cup of kindness yet, For auld lang syne!.... For auld lang syne!....

New Year`s Eve is a more important festival in Scotland than it is in England. It has a special name - “Hogmanay” connect- ed with the provision of food and drink for all visitors to your home on the 31 st of December.

It was believed that the first person to visit one`s house on New Year`s Day could bring good luck to the family for the following twelve months. The first person is called the First Foot. It must be a healthy, young and good-looking man with black or fair hair.

In England the First Foot must be a man (or a boy), not a woman, for she will bring bad luck

The First Foot comes very early, and the sooner he comes, the better. He brings some symbolic presents: -a piece of bread to wish food -a piece of coal to wish warmth -a silver coin to wish wealth -an evergreen branch as a promise of continuing life.

As the First Foot is a luck-bringer, he must be received with hospitality and treated to tasty things

Not all English people celebrate the New Year but those who do, celebrate it in one way or another: Some have a New Year party which begins at 8 o`clock in the evening. At twelve o`clock they have a toast to the New Year. Then the party goes on till early morning.

A lot of people go to Trafalgar Square to see the Christmas Tree which is over fifty feet high. There are big bright stars, shining balls of different colours all over the tree. It is very bbeautiful!

Some people stay at home and watch the celebration of the New Year on television. Another way of celebrating the New Year is to go to a New Year`s dance.

On this day children usually write New Year`s resolutions in which they promise to do this or not to do that.

So on this day all people are happy, they relax, have fun and wish each other

A key to the crossword Across: 1.Father Christmas 3. Carol 6. Present 7. Pudding 8. Cake Down: 2. Christmas tree 4. Turkey 5. Stocking 9. Cracker 10. Fruit

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