Travel and culture 129
Around ten o’clock most people get together in front
of the television to watch a comedy show. The show is
called Áramótaskaup and is only shown on this evening.
Some of the most talented actors in Iceland play roles in
it. They make fun of what happened over the year that is
about to end.
At midnight Icelanders talk about ‘blowing the old away’
with fireworks and the new year is welcomed.
China
In China they celebrate the new year in January or
February. It is a very big festival for the Chinese and it
lasts for 15 days! The last day is known as the Festival of
Lanterns. Then people carry lights in the streets. You can
also see dragon parades and lion dances.
It is a tradition to clean your house on the last day of the
year and on the first day of the new year everyone wears
new clothes to visit friends and family.
Everyone eats special food. It is bad luck to kill an animal
at new year, and therefore the food is usually vegetarian.
In China, fireworks are part of the celebrations and
people often carry the symbol of the new year. It is
tradition to name the years after animals.
around the world
