Text 69. NEW YEAR IN ENGLAND

In England New Year is not as widely or as enthusiastical­ly observed as Christmas. Some people ignore it completely and go to bed at the same time as usual on New Year’s Eve. Many others, however, do celebrate it in one way or another, the type of celebration varying very much according to the lo­cal custom, family tradition and personal taste.

The most common type of celebration is a New Year party, either a family party or one arranged by a group of young peop­le. This usually begins at about eight o’clock and goes on until the early hours in the morning. There is a lot of drinking, main­ly beer, wine, gin and whisky; sometimes the hosts make a big bowl of punch¹which consists of wine, spirits, fruit juice and water in varying proportions. There is usually a buf­fet supper of cold meat, pies, sandwiches, savories, ca­kes and biscuits. At midnight the wireless is turned on, so that everyone can hear the chimes of Big Ben, and on the ho­ur a toast is drunk to the New Year. Then the party goes on.

Another popular way of celebrating the New Year is to go to a New Year’s dance. Most hotels and dance halls hold a special dan­ce on New Year’s Eve. The hall is decorated, there are several different bands and the atmosphere is very gay.

The most famous celebration is in London, round the statue of Eros in Piccadilly Circus, where crowds gather and sing and welcome the New Year. In Trafalgar Square there is al­so a big crowd and someone usually falls into the fountain.

First-Footing¹. In parts of Northern Ireland and in Scotland the old custom of First-Footing is still observed. Tradition says that the first person to enter a house on New Year’s Day should be a dark-haired man; otherwise ill-luck will follow. It is also advisable that the person should bring with him a gift – a piece of coal, a fish, a bottle of whisky or a piece of bread are traditional gifts.

Curiously enough, in a few other parts of the country, the First-Footer is required to be fair-haired man. In the past young men of the right colouring and with an eye to business would offer their services as First Footer to households in the district – for a small fee.

Notes:

1. First-Footing – первое посещение в Новом году.

Answer the following questions:

1. Do all English people celebrate New Year?

2. What is the most common type of celebration?

3. What is another popular way of celebrating the New Year?

4. How is the tradition of First Footing observed?