Celebrating New Year"s Day is one of the oldest and most exciting traditions around the world． Since this festival marks the beginning of the year， New Year"s Day is thought of as a perfect time for a "clean start"． People in the world decide to act better in the year just beginning than the year just ended．
No day has ever been celebrated in so many different ways． All over the world， countries have their own special beliefs about what the New Year means to them．
In Scotland， the New Year is called Hogmanay． In the villages of Scotland， barrels of tar （沥青） are set on fire． It represents that the old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter．
New Year"s Day is also the Festival of Saint Basil in Canada． Children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year"s Day with the hope that Saint Basil， who is famous for his kindness， will come and fill their shoes with gifts．
The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah． It is an important time when Jews promise to do better in the future． Special services are held in the church， children are given new clothes and New Year bread is cooked to remind people of harvest time．
On New Year"s Day in Japan， everyone gets dressed in their new clothes and homes are decorated （装饰） with bamboos-symbols of long life．
In European countries such as Germany， France and Belgium， families start the New Year by first attending church services． Afterwards， they visit friends and relatives． In France， boys and girls receive gifts of money on New Year"s Day．
New Year celebrations around the world
| Country/people | Celebration activities | Special beliefs |
Scotland | People (1) barrels of tar． | The old year is burned up and the new one is allowed to enter． |
Canada | Children leave thei (2) by the fireside． | Their shoes will be filled with gifts by Saint Basil． |
Jews | It is a time for people to (3) to do better in the future．People cook New Year Bread to remind of harvest time． | |
| Japan | People wear their new clothes．
Homes are decorated with bamboos． | Symbols of (4) life |
European
Countries | People attend church services (5) visiting friends and relatives． | |