At midnight on 31At midnight on 31stst December British people celebrate December British people celebrate the coming of the new year, by holding hands in a the coming of the new year, by holding hands in a large circle and singing the song:large circle and singing the song:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,For auld lang syne,

We`ll take a cup of kindness yet,We`ll take a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!....For auld lang syne!....

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

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

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

The First Foot comes very early, and the sooner he The First Foot comes very early, and the sooner he comes, the better. He brings some comes, the better. He brings some symbolic presents: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 As the First Foot is a luck-bringer, he must be received with hospitality and treated to received with hospitality and treated to tasty thingstasty things

Not all English people celebrate the New Year but Not all English people celebrate the New Year but those who do, celebrate it in one way or another: 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 So on this day all people are happy, they relaxrelax, have fun and wish each other , have fun and wish each other

A key to the crosswordA 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

A key to the task - synonyms to the A key to the task - synonyms to the wordswords

A festival

Treat

Rest

Resolution

Coal

Dance

A gift

The first foot

A piece of bread

A holiday dinner

1. A holiday

2. Tasty things

3. Relax

4. Promise

5. A thing to bring warmth

6. Move a body

7. A present

8. The first guest

9. ....bring food

10. Celebration at the table

Insert the missing words in the textInsert the missing words in the text Christmas is celebrated on the and New Christmas is celebrated on the and New

YearYearis on the . On these days people usually go to is on the . On these days people usually go to the , sing , put a New Year , the , sing , put a New Year , the house, have a holiday including a , a the house, have a holiday including a , a , a , and . The most impor-, a , and . The most impor-tant tradition is to give and get . Children leave tant tradition is to give and get . Children leave a long at the end of their beds hoping that a long at the end of their beds hoping that will come and bring them presents.will come and bring them presents. But in New Year is more important. Its name But in New Year is more important. Its name is . On this day there is a tradition of is . On this day there is a tradition of . A First Foot is a with or hair . A First Foot is a with or hair coming to the house first and bringing some symbols: a coming to the house first and bringing some symbols: a

, ,a , and an evergreen .a , and an evergreen .He is considered to bring to the family. On this He is considered to bring to the family. On this day children like to write New Year . day children like to write New Year .

25th of December31st of December

church carols tree decoratedinner turkey

pudding cake hot mince piespresents

stocking FatherChristmas

ScotlandHogmanay First

Footing man

branch

black faircoin

coal a piece of bread good luck

resolutions