It seems obvious to us now that 1st January is the first day of the New Year. But for a long time there was no agreed calendar.
_____ From about five hundred years ago, countries gradually adopted 1st January as the New Year. As travel and trade around the world increased, it was helpful to have the same dates for everything.
Because of the division of the world into time zones, the New Year moves round the world as the new day begins. The first time zone to see the New Year is just west of the International Date Line. It is the Pacific Ocean islands of Kiribati. _____
On 31st December people all over the world meet to wait for the clock to strike midnight. Then there are spectacular firework displays to welcome in the New Year. _____ Last year in New York's Times Square, people were showered in confetti - tiny pieces of coloured paper.
But there are still some different New Year traditions. In India in the autumn, there is an important celebration called Diwali, the festival of lights. It starts with people throwing firecrackers in the street and lasts for five days. And Chinese New Year is around the end of January. ____ Everyone has new clothes, and there are parties, street processions and fireworks. The New Year celebrations last two weeks!
It seems obvious to us now that 1st January is the first day of the New Year. But for a long time there was no agreed callendar. From about five hundred years ago, countries grafually adopted 1st January as the NEw Year. As travel and trade around the world increased, it was helpful to have the same dates for everything. Because of the division of the world into time zones, the New Year moves round the world as day begins. The first time zone to see New Year is just west of the International Date Line. It is the Pacific Ocean islands of Kirbati. On 31st December people all over the world meet to wait for the clock to strike midnight. Then there are spectacular firework displays to welcome in the New Year. Last year in New York's Times Square, people were showered in confetti - tiny pieces of coloured paper. But there are still some diffrent New Year traditions. In India in the autumn, there is an important celebration called Diwali, the festival of lights. It starts with people throwing firecrakes in the street and lasts for few days. And Chinese New Year is around the end of January. Everyone has new clothes and there are parties, street processions and firework. The New Year celebrations last two weeks!
It seems obvious to us now that 1st January is the first day of the New Year. But for a long time there was no agreed calendar.
_____ From about five hundred years ago, countries gradually adopted 1st January as the New Year. As travel and trade around the world increased, it was helpful to have the same dates for everything.
Because of the division of the world into time zones, the New Year moves round the world as the new day begins. The first time zone to see the New Year is just west of the International Date Line. It is the Pacific Ocean islands of Kiribati. _____
On 31st December people all over the world meet to wait for the clock to strike midnight. Then there are spectacular firework displays to welcome in the New Year. _____ Last year in New York's Times Square, people were showered in confetti - tiny pieces of coloured paper.
But there are still some different New Year traditions. In India in the autumn, there is an important celebration called Diwali, the festival of lights. It starts with people throwing firecrackers in the street and lasts for five days. And Chinese New Year is around the end of January. ____ Everyone has new clothes, and there are parties, street processions and fireworks. The New Year celebrations last two weeks!
It seems obvious to us now that 1st January is the first day of the New Year. But for a long time there was no agreed callendar.
From about five hundred years ago, countries grafually adopted 1st January as the NEw Year. As travel and trade around the world increased, it was helpful to have the same dates for everything.
Because of the division of the world into time zones, the New Year moves round the world as day begins. The first time zone to see New Year is just west of the International Date Line. It is the Pacific Ocean islands of Kirbati.
On 31st December people all over the world meet to wait for the clock to strike midnight. Then there are spectacular firework displays to welcome in the New Year.
Last year in New York's Times Square, people were showered in confetti - tiny pieces of coloured paper.
But there are still some diffrent New Year traditions. In India in the autumn, there is an important celebration called Diwali, the festival of lights. It starts with people throwing firecrakes in the street and lasts for few days. And Chinese New Year is around the end of January.
Everyone has new clothes and there are parties, street processions and firework. The New Year celebrations last two weeks!