Reading Passage: New Year, New Traditions

A new calendar year begins on the year's first day in many countries, but the ways people welcome it are far from identical. For some, the holiday is a chance to look back on the months that have passed and decide what they hope to change. A person might set a goal to practice an instrument, spend more time outdoors, or become more patient. Such plans are often called resolutions, though keeping them can take effort long after the celebrations end. In the United States, crowds gather in New York City's Times Square to watch a large illuminated ball descend as midnight approaches. The custom began in 1907. At home, people may follow the countdown on television, share a meal, or watch fireworks. The moment offers a way for people in different places to mark the same turning point together. In Spain, many people try to eat one grape with each of the twelve midnight chimes. Each grape is linked with one month ahead, and finishing all twelve is thought to invite good fortune. In Japan, the new year may begin with a visit to a shrine or temple, where people offer prayers for health and happiness. Families also serve osechi, a collection of New Year's foods whose ingredients and shapes carry wishes for things such as long life and prosperity. These customs show that a holiday can be shared without being celebrated in just one way. A countdown, a meal, or a visit to a sacred place can connect people to family and community. Across the traditions, the start of a year gives many people a moment to express hopes for what comes next.