New Year in America discusses several traditions associated with celebrating the new year. In Times Square, a large ball drops as midnight strikes and the new year begins, with people cheering and confetti falling. Many people make New Year's resolutions to improve themselves in the coming year. It is also common to sing "Auld Lang Syne" at midnight and eat black-eyed peas for good luck and prosperity in the new year. Noisemakers and fireworks at midnight aim to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.

1. New Year in America
By Tamar Tabukashvili

2. The main attribute of the new year a
Christmas fir tree

3. Many people enjoy the tradition of watching the New Year’s
festivities in Times Square in the heart of New York City.
Traditionally, at one minute before midnight, a lighted ball begins to
drop slowly from the top of a pole.
As the ball drops, all the people in Times Square count down the final minute of the year.
At the stroke of midnight, the ball reaches the bottom of the pole, and a
huge “Happy New Year” sign lights up.
Then Times Square is filled with cheers.
Confetti is dropped from windows above, and revelers hug, kiss, and wish each other
a “Happy New Year!”

4. The most common and well-known tradition is the
New Year resolution. Many refer to it as “turning
over a new leaf,” and spend the first day of the
New Year reflecting on the past year and resolving
to improve for the next.

5. At New Year’s Eve parties, people often sing
a traditional Scottish song, “Auld Lang Syne,”
the old song by Robert Burns, just after the
clock strikes midnight and the cheers of
“Happy New Year” subside.

6. A traditional New Year’s dish is Hoppin’ John- black
eyed peas and ham. An old saying goes “Eat peas on
New year’s day to have plenty of everything the rest of
the year. “
The greens represent
paper money, and the
beans, usually black-
eyed peas, coins.

7. Noisemaking and fireworks on New Year's Eve is believed to
have originated in ancient times, when noise and fire were
thought to dispel evil spirits and bring good luck. For this
reason at parties people use horns and whistles too.