【Prize quiz】Unique New Year Traditions Around the World: A Cross-Cultural Celebration

Unique New Year Traditions Around the World:

A Cross-Cultural Celebration

New Year is an important moment to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. People around the world celebrate the arrival of the New Year in distinctive ways. These traditions not only reflect rich cultural customs but also show people's shared hopes for a bright future. Here are three unique New Year traditions from different countries, giving us a glimpse into this cross-cultural celebration.

1. Midnight Grape Eating - Spain

In Spain, on New Year's Eve, as the clock strikes midnight, people quickly eat twelve grapes, each symbolizing one month of the coming year. If they can finish the grapes within twelve seconds, it is said to bring good luck for the new year. This custom dates back to the early 20th century, when a bountiful grape harvest led farmers to promote this practice, and it has since become a signature activity of the Spanish New Year.

2. Burning Effigies - Ecuador

Ecuador's New Year's Eve is full of symbolism. People make effigies, often representing bad luck or negative emotions from the past year, using old clothes, newspapers, and wood. At midnight, the effigies are set on fire, symbolizing the burning away of all negative energy and the welcoming of a new year. This tradition is called "Año Viejo" (Old Year), representing purification and rebirth.

3. Fireball Parade - Scotland Warding

In the Scottish town of Stonehaven, the New Year's Eve fireball parade is a unique tradition. Locals create fireballs by filling wire baskets with cloth or paper, set them on fire, and carry them over their heads while walking through the streets. These fireballs are seen as symbols of purification and warding off evil, bringing light and hope, and they are believed to bring good fortune for the year ahead.

These unique New Year traditions showcase the diversity of cultures around the world and help us feel the shared human emotions towards the New Year – bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future. Whether it's the grapes that bring good luck, the burning effigies that cleanse negative energy, or the fireballs that ward off evil, each tradition conveys a message of letting go of the past and seeking hope for the future. As the New Year approaches, these special customs may inspire our own celebrations and add a unique sense of ritual to the upcoming year.

List of Vocabulary - Learn New Words:

1. Symbolism (n.) - 象徵意義
2. Promote (v.) - 促進，推廣
3. Bountiful (adj.) - 豐富的
4. Signature (adj.) - 代表性的，標誌性的
5. Effigy (n.) - 偶像，雕像
6. Represent (v.) - 代表
7. Purification (n.) - 淨化
8. Rebirth (n.) - 重生
9. Bid farewell to (phr.) – 告別…、不再有…
10. Ward off (v.) - 防止，驅除

Prize quiz:

In your own culture, are there any similar ways to celebrate the New Year? For example, certain special customs, foods, or rituals? What values or hopes do you think these traditions represent?

Please share your insights with at least 80 words (in English). Please do not copy words from the paragraphs.

Important Information:

1. Please submit your response at https://reurl.cc/E6aXYa no later than January 15.
2. The selected top three students who provide appropriate responses will receive a gift.
3. The result will be announced in January on the college website of Wenzao.