#282 New Year's Eve Traditions and Superstitions in the US

Speak English Now through mini-stories with teacher Georgiana

Today, we will talk about how people in America celebrate New Year's Eve. And with a short story you will learn grammar in context without any boring rules.

On my website you can get the 5 Secrets to speak English and also my premium courses.

Hi, everyone! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.

Before we start, get the transcript on my website. It's completely free.

Visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast

Let's explore the fun traditions and superstitions that make New Year's Eve special in the USA.

#1 Dropping the Ball in Times Square: Perhaps the most iconic New Year's Eve tradition in the USA is the dropping of the ball in Times Square, New York City. Imagine a big, shiny ball made of crystal. Every year, lots of people gather to watch the ball descend when the clock strikes midnight. It's a famous event since 1907, making people happy and hopeful about what's coming next.

#2 Kissing at Midnight: Kissing someone at the stroke of midnight is considered a way to ensure that the year ahead will be filled with love and happiness.

#3 Parties and Get-Togethers

New Year's Eve is a time for friends and family to unite. We have parties where we dance, laugh, and have a great time. We also raise a toast with fizzy wine or champagne to celebrate and wish each other well. But don't confuse 'champagne' with 'shampoo.' It's not as bubbly and won't make your hair smell better!

#4 Parades and Fireworks: In many parts of the country, there are parades and fireworks to celebrate the New Year. One of the most famous parades is the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. It's a happy parade with floats decorated with flowers, marching bands, and horses. It's a fun way to begin the new year.

#5 Hangover Cure: Some people feel bad the next day after the party, like a headache and a sick stomach. This is called a 'hangover.' People say drinking water and eating breakfast can make you feel better. However, the best way to feel good is to sleep a lot on the first day of the year and wake up on January 2nd feeling fresh and ready!

#6 New Year's Resolutions

Many Americans like to make "resolutions" for the new year. These are like promises we make to ourselves. For example, we might promise to exercise more, learn something new, or be kinder. But let's be honest: many of us forget our resolutions by February.

So, instead of saying we'll exercise every day, maybe we can just promise to enjoy chocolate without feeling bad about it. That's a resolution that's easy to keep!