Question

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New Year’s Celebration around the world.

In New-York City, people gather in Times Square to watch a huge crystal ball descend from the top of a tall building as midnight approaches. At the final moment, people cheer and hug and kiss each other. In London, people gather in Trafalgar Square and listen for the chimes of a huge clock called Big Ben to mark the start of the New Year. Then they cheer and sing a traditional song: Auld Lang Syne. In Scotland, friends visit each other’s houses in the early hours of the New Year, bringing with them some bread, some whisky, and a lump of coal for good luck. This custom is called “first-footing.” In Japan, people decorate the doors of their houses with pine branches and bamboo, which symbolize long life and wealth. In China, families stay up till midnight to eat a special kind of dumpling. The dumplings are boiled and served just after midnight. A coin is hidden in one of the dumplings. The person who finds or bites the coin will be the luckiest one in the New Year. In Germany, New Year’s Eve is called « Sylvester» and is named after a pope from the 4th century. People dress up in their best clothes and visit each others’ houses to drink a toast to the New Year. In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, it is the custom to eat 12 grapes, one with every chime, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead.

Дайте письменно ответы на следующие вопросы. 1. In what country is a coin, hidden in a special dish, a symbol of luck in the coming year? 2. What plants symbolize longevity and prosperity? 3. Why is New Year’s Eve called Sylvester? 4. Why do they eat 12 grapes in Spain, when the clock strikes midnight?

Answer 1

1. In what country is a coin, hidden in a special dish, a symbol of luck in the coming year? - In China. (In China, families stay up till midnight to eat a special kind of dumpling. The dumplings are boiled and served just after midnight. A coin is hidden in one of the dumplings. The person who finds or bites the coin will be the luckiest one in the New Year.)

2. What plants symbolize longevity and prosperity? - These plants are pine and bamboo. (In Japan, people decorate the doors of their houses with pine branches and bamboo, which symbolize long life (долгую жизнь) and wealth (богатство, изобилие), это то же самое, что longevity (долголетие) and prosperity (процветание) .)

3. Why is New Year’s Eve called Sylvester? - It is named after a pope from the 4th century. (In Germany, New Year’s Eve is called « Sylvester» and is named after a pope from the 4th century.)

4. Why do they eat 12 grapes in Spain, when the clock strikes midnight? - Because it is supposed to  bring good luck for the 12 months ahead. (In Spain, when the clock strikes midnight, it is the custom to eat 12 grapes, one with every chime, to bring good luck for the 12 months ahead.)

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