Celebrating the New Year around the world
Huntington
Beach Public Library Literacy Volunteers
OPEN
DOORS: Jan 2015
As we
drift past the December holidays and move into the New Year, HB
Literacy Volunteers is so pleased to bring New Year stories from our
learners and tutors.
New
Year's Eve in Korea by Jessica S.
People
listen to Jeya Bell's sound on TV or radio. Some people go to the place where
Jeya Bell is. The bell is hit 33 times at midnight on January 1. The bell is in
Bosingak (Buddhist temple) in Seoul.
Usually,
a bell is a symbol of defeating the evil and of greeting a happy event, and has
been used for a long time to start and end with informing signal.
The
meaning of hitting the bell is praying for the health and longevity for the
people, and the country's peace. And the meaning of 33 times is that people
dream trying to touch the sky (name: 33 sky - people think there are several
sky in the sky) which the patron of Buddhism or Korea's initiator lives.
New
Year in Apaxtla de Castrejon, Guerrero by Domingo C.
Hello,
I want to share part of my life that I lived in my country, Mexico. I am from
Guerrero, in the town of Apaxtla de Castrejon.
I
remember that in the month of December there were many parties and las posadas
that made me feel close to God. Then el nacimiento and the beautiful story of
the baby Jesus. All the days we celebrated with dancing. I liked so much
meeting with my friends, having sober fun.
On
Christmas, the family and friends get together for dinner, and we do the same
on the 31st of December to wait for the new year. The older people would tell
us when the new year started because they looked at the sky for a light that
lit up the whole town, and it made them happy. My aunts said the light was a
good sign for the sowing.
These
are beautiful memories for me, as well as my memories of parents and brothers
and sisters.
Read from more of our learners about new year traditions
around the world.
