Almostallculturescelebratetheendrofoneyearandthebeginningofanotherinsomeway.Differentculturescelebratethebeginningofanewyearindifferentways,andatdifferenttimesonthecalendar.InWesterncountries,peopleusuallycelebrateNewYearatmidnightonDecember31st-January1st.Peoplemaygotoparties,sometimesdressedinformal(正式的)clothes,andthemaydrinkchampagne(香槟)atmidnight.Duringthefirstminutesofthenewyear,peoplecheerandwisheachotherhappinessfortheyearahead.Butsomeculturesprefertocelebratethenewyearbywakingupearlytowatchthesunrise.Theywelcomethenewwearwiththefirstlightofthesunrise.Manyculturesalsodospecialthingstogetridof(摆脱)badluckatthebeginningofanewyear.Forexample,inEcuador,familiesmakeabigdollfromoldclothes.Thedollisfilledwitholdnewspapersandfirecrackers.Atmidnight,thesedollsareburnedtoshowthebadthingsfromthepastyeararegoneandthenewyearcanstartafresh(重新).Othercommontraditionstokeepawaybadluckinanewyearincludethrowingthingsintoriversortheocean,orsayingspecialthingsonthefirstdayofthenewyear.OtherNewYeartraditionsarefollowedtobringgoodluckinthenewyear.OnewidespreadSpanishtraditionforgoodluckistoeatgrapesonNewYear’sDay.Themoregrapesapersoneats,themoregoodluckthepersonwillhaveinthetear.InFrance,peopleeatpancakesforgoodluckatNewYear.翻译