美國新年
New Year In US
New Year in United States is celebrated on January 1, the first day of Gregorian Calendar. This is a Federal holiday in US. On this day, many people make resolutions to give away bad deeds and renew life with good ones. It's the time to remember the achievements and make merry for the New Year. New Year is expected to bring good luck and charm for people and this is the reason why Americans love to celebrate it with fun and enjoyment.
在美國，每年的1月1日是新年，這是聯邦節日。這一天，人家將拋棄過去一年不好的事情，許下新年的美好願望，辭舊迎新。新年也標識着一個新的美好的開始，這一天大家都很快樂。
New Year's Eve in United States
New Year's Eve celebration is a gala affair for the people of US. They love to enjoy even the last minute of the going year and welcome the New Year with a blast. Midnight parties, sumptuous dinners, live music and the dance floors make a perfect New Year's Eve bash. Every year, a huge ball is organized at Time Square in the New York City. This New Year celebration is watched over by large number of Americans. A minute before the New Year's Day, a brightly lighted ball is dropped slowly from the top of a pole. As soon as the ball reaches the ground, it gives a signal of New Year and everybody hug and kiss each other wishing Happy New Year.
Elsewhere, many of New Year parties in US have a dress code or a theme. People cover their faces with masks. They unmask themselves only when the clock strikes 12. To have some merriment with the family members at the beginning of the New Year, people prefer to celebrate it at their homes. Many people watch television, eat the auspicious black-eyed peas and rice called Hoppin' Johns. There is also a tradition to open champagne bottles as the clock strikes midnight on the New Year's Eve.
新年是全美各州一致慶祝的主要節日。美國人過新年，最熱鬧的是除夕晚上。是夜，人們聚集在教堂、街頭或廣場，唱詩、祈禱、祝福、懺悔，並一同迎候那除舊更新的一瞬。午夜12點，全國教堂鐘聲齊鳴，樂隊高奏著名的懷舊歌曲《一路平安》。在音樂聲中，激動的人們擁抱在一起，懷着惜別的感傷和對新生活的嚮往共同迎來新的一年。
北美的印第安人，還有其獨特的風俗。每到除夕之夜，他們就舉行富有特色的“簧火晚會”，一家入圍在篝火旁邊，載歌載舞，談笑風生。待至晨曦微露，他們再把破舊衣物付諸一炬，作爲除舊迎新的象徵。
除夕活動，常常持續到次日凌晨兩三點鐘。到元旦這一天，通常比較安寧、閒散。許多入很晚才起牀，然後同家人、朋友一起看看電視、吃頓新年飯。
New Year Day Celebrations in United States
New Year's Day begin by wishing the near and dear ones 'Happy New Year'. People visit their loved ones place and sometimes go out for picnic with them. New Year celebrations are further accelerated by watching the famous Tournament of Roses Parade. Theme of the parade varies every year. Today, the parade is followed by thousands of participants - marching bands, dancing and singing various songs. The queen of the tournament rides on a special float made from lacs of flowers. This is a very eye-catchy scene of the whole parade. There is also a New Year custom to play the most famous games of football such as the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.
雖然元旦並不是最熱鬧的一天，但仍有不少州舉行極富地方色彩的慶祝活動。加利福尼亞州有玫瑰花會，這是美國規模最大的新年慶典。七八十年前，加利福尼亞農村的一些俱樂部成員，每逢柑桔成熟季節，使用鮮花裝飾自己的馬車，在村裏搞一些小型慶祝活動。時至今日，它已發展成十里長街佈滿鮮花的盛大慶典。五六十輛完全用鮮花、特別是用玫瑰花紮成的彩車徐徐而行，長達數英里，車上還有用鮮花做的各種模型。這不儀吸引了加州的男女老少簇擁街頭，而且還吸引上百萬的電視觀衆。
在費城，有長達10小時之久的化裝遊行。這種活動的起源要追溯到17世紀中葉定居於特拉華河沿岸的瑞典與英國移民的習俗。當年他們總是身着盛裝在鄉村舉行新年慶祝遊行。今日費城的化裝遊行固然比當年更有組織，但仍然保留着昔日的特色。參加遊行的人們，有的裝扮成小丑，有的化裝成婦女(按照古老習俗，這個遊行不允許婦女參加)，隨着彩車，載歌載舞，人流如水，熱鬧非凡。每年參加的入數總在一兩萬左右。
此外還有不少州舉行元旦足球賽。鮮花盛開的加利福尼亞州，有玫瑰杯足球賽；盛產棉花的得克薩斯州達拉斯城，有棉花杯足球賽；甘蔗產地路易斯安那州新奧爾良，有糖杯足球賽；後來又新出現佛羅里達州傑克森維爾城的鱷魚盃賽，以及得克薩斯州埃爾帕索城的太陽盃賽等等。
美國入還有一個有意思的習慣，就是在新年許願立志，他們稱之爲“新年決心”。這決心通常不是什麼宏圖大志，而是一些樸實而實際的打算。例如：“我一定戒菸”，或者“我要好好對待鄰居”等等。他們總是坦率地講給大家聽，以期得到監督和鼓勵。
