Out with the Old, In with the New Year by Levi King

"Three, two, one, Happy New Year!" Most people are familiar with the dropping of the ball of lights in New York City, along with the famous fireworks displays in Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Taipei. But here are a few lesser-known New Year''s Day traditions from around the globe.
In Japan, people send postcards to friends and family. They also fly kites, play games, and read poetry. Some traditions related to Chinese New Year are banging gongs to drive away bad luck and spirits and giving money to children on January 1.
In Spanish-speaking countries around the world, wearing red underwear on New Year''s Day is thought to bring good luck in love. In Ecuador, people burn dummies stuffed with paper and firecrackers to symbolize the death of the old year. In Spain and Mexico, people eat 12 grapes to ensure 12 lucky months.
In Scotland, home of the famous New Year song, "Auld Lang Syne," people bring gifts to neighbors just after midnight. In Denmark, people smash old plates to attract new friends. Dutch people believe that doughnuts are good luck because their ring shape symbolizes a complete year.
Around the world, it''s common practice to give a loved one a kiss at midnight on New Year''s Day. People of many countries also make resolutions, believing that the new year is a good time to leave bad habits behind. Common resolutions include dieting, exercising, or quitting smoking. Throw a party, watch some fireworks, eat a special food, or make a resolution. No matter where you are, there are plenty of great ways to welcome the New Year.

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1. There are different different New Year's Dat traditions from each other countries. In Japen, they send postcards to everyone; in Spanish-speaking countries around the world, they consider that you wear red underwears so that you can meet your soul mate, and so on. It is common that you kiss the person you love at midnight on New Year's day. At the same time, people also make resolutions, believing that it does work.

2.
A. gong
spirit
dummy
Auld Lang Syne
B. be familiar with
along with
be related to
make resolutions
leave ... behind
be derived from

3. I am happy to talk about New Year's Day. Not only how important the festival in Taiwan but also how do we pass the festival. We often take lucky money and set off fireworks. I think it is the most brilliant day when I was a child. Needless to day, my mom will prepare kinds of food to celebrate the special day. For example, because we want to be lucky next year, we often eat fish. Because of the pronunciation.