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Creative Writing

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Last writing of the semester!

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New Year’s Celebrations Around the World

By: Mr. R

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What do people normally do on New Year’s Eve?

  • Stay up until midnight
  • Countdown from 10, 9, 8…
  • Eat a lot of food with friends
  • Drink champagne
  • Fireworks
  • But what about other countries? Do they do anything differently?

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SCARECROW BURNING (ECUADOR)�

  • burn scarecrows filled with paper at 12am on New Year’s eve, as well as burning any old photographs that represent bad memories.
  • helps to banish any ill fortune or bad things that have happened over the last 12 months.

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BROKEN PLATES (DENMARK)�

  • on New Year's Eve the people of Denmark throw unused plates that have been saved up throughout the year at the front doors of family and friends
  • Why? for good luck.
  • More plates you find= more luck in new year

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108 RINGS (JAPAN)�

  • Each temple has a main bell
  • That bell is rung 108 times
  • This Buddhist tradition is believed to banish human sins.
  • People in Japan believe good luck to enter the New Year smiling or laughing, too.

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WEARING COLOURED UNDERWEAR (SOUTH AMERICA)�

  • color of your underwear determine what the New Year will bring.
  • Love= wear red underpants
  • Wealth=wear yellow.
  • Peace=wear white

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THROWING FURNITURE OUT OF THE WINDOW (ITALY)�

  • Throw old furniture (soft items) out window

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  • Why? to symbolize a fresh start for the next year.

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  • cushions to blankets, anything that no longer brings them happiness will be chucked outside.

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TOSSING PAPER OUT OF THE WINDOW (ARGENTINA)�

  • shredding all of their old documents and papers, throw them out of the window.

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  • shred everything, symbolize leaving the past behind.

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Pouring Lead (Germany)

  • melt small pieces of lead in a spoon over a candle, then pour the liquid into cold water.
  • The weird shapes from the Bleigießen (lead pouring) =reveal what the year ahead will bring.
  • Ball=luck
  • Crown = wealth
  • Cross=death
  • star = happiness

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First Footing (Scotland)

  • the “first-foot,” also known as quaaltagh is the first person crossing the threshold after midnight.
  • Viking days= when big, blond strangers (commonly armed with axes and swords) at the door meant trouble
  • in some places, first footing by a blond male = unlucky

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Animal Spirits (Romania)

  • In rural areas, New Year’s Eve =mask dances and ceremonies about death and rebirth.
  • Dancers dress up in furs and wooden masks depicting goats, horses, or bears,
  • dance from house to house to make evil spirits go away
  • The dance of the bear= most popular
  • if bear go into somebody’s house, = prosperity, health, and good fortune.

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Potato Drop (Idaho, USA)

the people of downtown Boise  = drop a big potato from sky.

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40,000+ spectators watch 400-pound “GlowTato.”

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Covered with 10, 000 LED lights

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Why? Idaho is famous for its potato

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The event includes live music, food trucks, ski and snowboard competitions, and fireworks, making it a big celebration for the whole community.

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Ecuador

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Scotland

South America

Germany

Italy

Romania

Denmark

Argentina

Idaho, the USA

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Title: New Year’s Celebrations Around the World

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P1:Introduction

P2 Body Paragraph: One tradition from the list

P3: Conclusion

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First Paragraph: Introduction

Title: New Year’s Celebrations Around the World

Hook

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Explain the hook/general information

You can explain how Taiwanese people celebrate New Years in two sentences.

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Thesis statement

Around the world, people welcome the New Year in various and interesting ways. One country, in particular, has a special way to bring in the new year: (country).

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Paragraph 2 - Body

In Germany, when New Year's Eve arrives, some families have a unique and exciting tradition called "Bleigießen." It's a special way of trying to predict what might happen in the coming year. They melt small pieces of lead, and when it's all gooey and hot, they pour it into cold water. The metal hardens into different shapes, and then the fun part begins! Families look at the shapes and try to figure out what they look like—it could be a heart, a key, or even an animal. Each shape is like a little clue about what might happen in the future. For example, a ball means luck, a crown means wealth, a cross means death and a star means happiness. It's like telling the future in a playful and creative way, and everyone enjoys making guesses and sharing their wishes for the brand new year!

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Conclusion

Restate thesis

In conclusion, celebrating the New Year in (country) is a really fun and special way for friends and family to think about the future.

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Summary of body in one or two sentences

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Concluding sentence (How will this change the world? What should the reader learn? What should the reader do now that they read your essay? What will the future be like? What do you recommend?)

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A Class

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Conclusion

Restate thesis

In conclusion, celebrating the New Year in (country) is a really fun and special way for friends and family to think about the future.

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Summary of body in one or two sentences

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Concluding sentence (I wish or I hope)

B Class

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Conclusion Example

Restate thesis

In conclusion, celebrating the New Year in (country) is a really fun and special way for friends and family to think about the future.

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Summary of key points

Melting metal in shapes and wearing different colored underwear is like creating secret messages that tell us what might happen in the future.

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Concluding sentence (How will this change the world? What should the reader learn? What should the reader do now that they read your essay? What will the future be like? What do you recommend?)

It is a cool tradition that makes saying goodbye to the old year and hello to the new year exciting!

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In Germany, when New Year's Eve arrives, some families have a unique and exciting tradition called "Bleigießen." It's a special way of trying to predict what might happen in the coming year. They melt small pieces of lead, and when it's all gooey and hot, they pour it into cold water. The metal hardens into different shapes, and then the fun part begins! Families look at the shapes and try to figure out what they look like—it could be a heart, a key, or even an animal. Each shape is like a little clue about what might happen in the future. For example, a ball means luck, a crown means wealth, a cross means death and a star means happiness. It's like telling the future in a playful and creative way, and everyone enjoys making guesses and sharing their wishes for the brand new year!

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In Germany, when New Year's Eve arrives, some families have a unique and exciting tradition called "Bleigießen." It's a special way of trying to predict what might happen in the coming year. They melt small pieces of lead, and when it's all gooey and hot, they pour it into cold water. The metal hardens into different shapes, and then the fun part begins! Families look at the shapes and try to figure out what they look like—it could be a heart, a key, or even an animal. Each shape is like a little clue about what might happen in the future. For example, a ball means luck, a crown means wealth, a cross means death and a star means happiness. It's like telling the future in a playful and creative way, and everyone enjoys making guesses and sharing their wishes for the brand new year!

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(main idea)

(main idea)

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First Paragraph: Introduction

Hook

“3,2,1 Happy New Year!” That is the sound of what a traditional New Year sounds like in Taiwan.

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Explain the hook/general information

People gather with friends and wait for the countdown at midnight. Then, they watch the fireworks in person or on TV. However, not every country does the same things.

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Thesis statement

Around the world, people welcome the New Year in various and interesting ways. One country, in particular, has a special way to bring in the new year: Germany.

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Paragraph 3 - Body (South America)

In some South American countries, people have a special tradition for New Year's Eve—they wear different colored underwear to bring good luck for the upcoming year! Imagine picking out your underwear based on the color that might bring you the best things in life. For example, yellow is chosen for wealth and good fortune, red for love and passion, and white for peace. It's like a secret wish you wear! Thus, when the clock strikes midnight, and the fireworks light up the sky, everyone is hoping that their colorful underwear will bring lots of good things in the brand new year. It's a fun and exciting way to celebrate!