新年即將臨，大家準備如何慶祝新年呢？很多人喜歡看煙火秀，燃放煙火的英文是 set off / let off fireworks，注意這個詞恆用複數。今天跟著Funday小編來看看其他國家慶祝新年習俗。
1.United States: Watching the Ball Drop
美國：觀看降球儀式
On New Year’s Eve every year, in spite of the cold temperatures, millions of Americans gather around their televisions or on the streets of Times Square to watch the ball drop when the clock strikes midnight. Adolph Ochs, the owner of the New York Times, started to hold this event in 1907 to ring in January 1908, aiming to attract people’s attention to the new headquarters of the New York Times.
每年的新年前夕，儘管氣溫寒冷，但當午夜鐘聲敲響時，數百萬美國人都會聚在電視機前或時代廣場的街道上觀看降球儀式。《紐約時報》的所有者阿道夫·奧克斯（Adolph Ochs）於 1907 年開始舉辦這一活動，以迎接 1908 年 1 月，旨在吸引人們對紐約時報新總部的關注。
*spectacle 精彩的表演；壯觀的場面 *ring in sth 鳴鐘歡慶（尤指新年）
2.Brazil: Heading to the Beach
巴西：前往海灘
In Brazil, people usually hit the beach to celebrate on New Year’s Eve because it is summer there. After midnight, it is customary for Brazilians to hop over seven waves and make seven wishes. This tradition originates from the respect for Yemanja, the goddess of water. Before Brazilians get into the water, they are conventionally dressed in white from top to toe, because it symbolizes purity.
在巴西，人們通常在新年前夕去海灘慶祝，因為那裡屆時是夏天。午夜過後，巴西人習慣跳起越過七波海浪，並許下七個願望。這一傳統源於對水之女神葉曼迦的尊重。巴西人在下水之前，習俗上會從頭到腳穿白色衣服，因為這象徵著純潔。
*hit the beach 去海灘 *It is customary that... 做....是習俗
*originate from... 起源於.... *from top to toe 從頭到腳
*purity 純潔
3.Spain: Eating 12 Grapes
西班牙：吃12顆葡萄
Spaniards start the new year by eating 12 grapes, which symbolizes that the clock strikes 12. This tradition dates back to the late 19th century, and it is believed that it can help people steer clear of the evil spirits while boosting your chances of having a prosperous and auspicious new year. However, this is only effective if you can eat all the grapes in a matter of seconds because they need to be eaten before the clock strikes midnight.
西班牙人以吃掉 12 顆葡萄來開始新的一年，這象徵著時鐘敲響 12 點。這一傳統可以追溯到 19 世紀晚期，人們相信這樣做可以幫助人們遠離邪靈，同時新增你度過一個繁榮吉祥新年的機會。然而，只有當你能在幾秒鐘內吃掉所有葡萄時，這才有效，因為這些葡萄需要在午夜鐘聲敲響之前被吃光。
*date back to... 追溯到..... *steer clear of... 避開..... *boost 增進
*prosperous 繁榮的 *auspicious 吉祥的 *a matter of... 幾個....
4.India: Building a Sculpture of an Old Man and Burning it Down
印度：建造一座老人雕塑並將其燒毀
In Mumbai, people make an effigy of an old man as a symbol of the old year and burn it at midnight. Burning it symbolizes the grievances of the past year and creates possibility for the birth of the new year. Everyone gets together to sing 'Auld Lang Syne'.
在孟買，人們製作一尊老人的雕像作為舊年的象徵，並在午夜時分焚燒這尊雕像。燃燒這尊雕像象徵著過去一年的不滿，並為新一年的誕生創造了可能性。大家聚在一起唱「友誼地久天長」。
*effigy 雕像 *as a symbol of... 作為....的象徵 *grievance 不滿，委屈
5.Japan: Eating Soba Noodles
日本：吃蕎麥麵
Japanese people start the new year by eating a bowl of warm buckwheat noodles. This tradition can be traced back to the Kamakura period and is related to the distribution of noodles to the poor at Buddhist temples. Because the thin and long noodles are firm but easy to bite, people think that eating them symbolizes a complete farewell to the old year.
日本的人們以吃一碗溫暖的蕎麥麵來開始新的一年。這一傳統可以追溯到鐮倉時期，並與佛教寺廟向窮人分發麵條有關。因為細長的麵條很結實，但很容易咬，所以人們認為吃了它象徵著與舊年的徹底告別。
*soba / buckwheat noodles 蕎麥麵 *be traced back to... 被追溯至.....
*farewell 道別
6.Denmark: Throwing Old Plates
丹麥：扔舊盤子
Residents of Denmark greet the New Year by throwing old plates and glasses against the doors of family and friends to banish bad spirits. They also stand on chairs and jump off of them together at midnight to “leap” into January in hopes of good luck.
丹麥的居民在迎接新年時，會把舊盤子和杯子扔在家人和朋友的門上，以驅除壞情緒。他們還會站在椅子上，在午夜時一起跳下椅子，跳」到一月份，希望好運。
*banish 驅除 *leap 跳 *in hopes of sth 以希望獲得某物
7.Canada: Going Ice Fishing
加拿大：冰上釣魚
Freezing temps do not hinder Canadians from ringing in the new year with their favorite winter sport, ice fishing. It is customary for families to rent heated huts and cooking equipment so that they can enjoy a feast with their relatives on the spot.
寒冷的氣溫並不妨礙加拿大人在新的一年裡參加他們最喜歡的冬季運動——冰上釣魚。家庭習慣租用加熱的小屋和烹飪設備，這樣他們就可以在現場與親人一起享受盛宴。
*hinder sb from V-ing 阻礙某人做..... *feast 盛宴 * on the spot 在現場地
8.Philippines: Serving 12 Round Fruits
菲律賓：供應12種圓形水果
On New Year’s Eve, Philippine families see to it that they supply 12 kinds of round fruits, such as apples, grapes and plums, because their shapes are similar to coins and are considered to represent prosperity. Each fruit represents one month of the year.
在新年前夕，菲律賓家庭會供應12種圓形水果，如蘋果、葡萄和李子，因為它們的形狀類似於硬幣，被認為代表繁榮。每個水果代表一年中的一個月。
*see to it that... 確保..... *prosperity 興旺
9.Mexico: Giving the Gift of Homemade Tamales
墨西哥：贈送自製塔馬利（玉米粉蒸肉）
In Mexico, families gather to make New Year’s Eve food, especially steamed pork with corn flour, which is a kind of corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese and vegetables, all wrapped in the husks, and then distribute them to relatives on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, menudo is often used to warm your body. This dish is a traditional Mexican soup made from cow’s stomach.
在墨西哥，家庭聚集在一起製作新年前夕的食品，特別是玉米粉蒸肉，這是一種玉米麵團，裡面塞滿了肉、乳酪和蔬菜，全都裹在酥脆外殼裡，然後在新年前夜將它們分發給親人。在元旦，墨西哥的傳統牛肚湯經常被用來溫暖你的身體。這道菜是用牛的胃做的墨西哥傳統湯。
*stuff 使塞滿 *steamed 蒸的
10.Greece: Hanging an Onion Outside the Door
希臘：在門外掛洋蔥
Onions are not only the staple food in the kitchen, but they can also bring you good luck in the New Year. In Greece, it is a tradition to hang onions outside the door. Onions are considered as a symbol of fertility and growth (thanks to their ability to germinate). On New Year’s Day, parents wake their children by tapping them on the head with the onions. Onions are hung on the door after the church service on New Year’s Day.
洋蔥不僅是廚房裡的主食，還能給你帶來新年的好運。在希臘，把洋蔥在門外是一種傳統。洋蔥被認為是生育和生長的象徵（由於其發芽能力）。在元旦，父母用洋蔥輕拍孩子的頭部來喚醒孩子。元旦教堂禮拜後，洋蔥 掛在門上。
*staple food 主食 *fertility 生育 *germinate 發芽 *tap 輕敲
11.Colombia: Placing Three Potatoes Under the Bed
哥倫比亞：在床下放三個馬鈴薯
On New Year’s Eve, the Colombian households have a tradition of putting three potatoes under each family member’s bed, one peeled, one not peeled, and the last one only peeled partially. At midnight, everyone will grab a potato with their eyes closed. According to the potato they choose, they can look forward to a year of good luck, financial difficulties or both.
在除夕夜，哥倫比亞家庭有一個傳統，將三個馬鈴薯放在每個家庭成員的床下，一個去皮，一個不去皮，最後一個只去部分的皮。午夜時分，每個人都會閉著眼睛抓住一個馬鈴薯。根據他們選擇的馬鈴薯，他們可以期待一年的好運、財務困難或兩者兼而有之。
*peel 剝（水果皮）
12.Ireland: Banging Bread Against the Walls
愛爾蘭：拿麵包敲打牆壁
In order to ward off evil spirits, Irish families make way for a healthy and prosperous New Year by knocking Christmas bread on the walls and doors of their homes.
為了遠離邪靈，愛爾蘭的家庭通過在家裡的牆壁和門上敲打聖誕麵包，為健康和繁榮的新年讓路。
*ward off sb 避開某人 *may way for... 為....讓路
13.Norway and Denmark: Celebrating With a Towering Cake
挪威和丹麥：用高聳的蛋糕慶祝
Kransekake is a traditional round cake, which usually has at least 18 layers. People in Denmark and Norway both eat this kind of cake on New Year’s Eve. These sugary layers, which look like biscuits, are wrapped in delicious royal icing.
花圈蛋糕是一種傳統的環形蛋糕，通常至少有18層，丹麥和挪威都在除夕 夜食用。這些看起來像餅乾的含糖層被美味的皇家糖霜包裹在一起。
*be wrapped in... 被....包覆住
14.Colombia: Walking Around the Streets With Empty Suitcases
哥倫比亞：拿著空手提箱走在街上
In order to welcome the new year full of travel, Colombian residents walked around the streets with empty suitcases.
為了迎接充滿旅行的新一年，哥倫比亞居民帶著空行李箱在街區裡走來走去。
15.Finland: Casting Molten Tin into a Container
芬蘭：將熔融錫鑄造到容器中
In Finland, people predict the coming year by casting molten tin into a container containing water and then explaining the shape of the hardened metal. A heart or a ring means a wedding, a boat means travel, and a pig says there will be plenty of food.
在芬蘭，人們通過將熔化的錫鑄造到一個盛水的容器中，然後解釋金屬硬化 後的形狀來預測來年。一顆心或一枚戒指意味著一場婚禮，而一艘船預示著旅行，而一頭豬則宣稱會有充足的食物。
*cast 拋，扔 *molten 熔化的
以上的文化差異是不是很有趣呢？今年的過年你要去哪裡度過，在還沒規劃好之前，先跟著Funday小編了解一下各國過年文化喔！
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