[originaltext] NEW YEAR Every culture a

NEW YEAR
   Every culture and every country in the world celebrates New Year,/but not everyone does it the same way. / The countries in North America and Europe welcome New Year on January the first. / This practice began with the Romans./In the Middle East, New Year is when spring begins./People in China and Vietnam celebrate it on the first day of the Spring Festival,/ which is the first day of their calendar based on the moon./The Hindus in India celebrate the first day of each season,/so they have four New Years.
   In all these cultures, there is a practice of making noise./People made noise in ancient times to drive away the evil spirits from their homes./Today making noise is more of a custom than a religious ritual./
   In the United States, many people stay up until midnight on New Year’ s Eve to watch the clock pass from one year to the next./Friends often gather together at a party on New Year’s Eve,/and when the new year comes, all ring bells, blow whistles, sing songs, and kiss each other./