The book 3SIXTY5 by Robert Campbell and Vicki Anderson is published by iT's Magazines.

Students find out about New Year's Eve celebrations in different countries and talk about how the end of the year is celebrated in their own country. They then sing the traditional song, AuId Lang Syne

Write the word Hogmanay on the board and explain that it is the name given to New Year's Eve inScotland. Tell the students that they are going to read a short text about Hogmanay. Ask them to read it and then tell you about first footing. After they have read the text and talked about the custom of first footing, talk about what the students usually do on New Year's Eve. What are the customs and have they changed in recent years?

Finally, tell them that even though everyone sings the song Auld Lang Syne, not many people know (or can remember) the words. The song is about old friends and past times and the words were written by the famous Scottish poet Robert Burns. We've included part of the song here for you to sing with your students. A "willy-waught" is a goodwill drink!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay in Scotland. Until quite recently, Hogmanay was celebrated more than Christmas in Scotland. There are always parties on Hogmanay which often include Scottish dancing and drinking Scotch whisky. When the bells strike midnight, everyone joins hands and sings the song AuId Lang Syne. People then go to "first foot" their friends. First footing is another Scottish custom. Traditionally, the first person to come into your home on the first day of the new year should be a tall, dark-haired man, carrying a lump of coal.

Most countries have their New Year traditions. In Ireland there is a custom of lighting candles to be placed in the windows of churches and houses to welcome the new year. In Denmark, children smash china on doors while in Italy people throw old furniture out of their windows. In many parts of the world, large fires are lit on New Year's Eve. These were originally lit to encourage the sun to return. This has never been a problem in Australia where there are big outdoor parties at this time of year.

AULD LANG SYNE
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days o' lang syne?

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll tak' a cup of kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And here's a hand my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine;
And we'll tak' a right gude willy-waught
For auld lang syne.

Chorus

© iT's Magazines S.L. 1999