New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve(ēv)

By 王渊源John

The traditional(trəˈdiSHənl) thing to do in the United States on New Year’s Eve is to go to a party and wait for midnight. If it’s an indoor party there will often be a TV on and people will watch the countdown(ˈkoun(t)doun) as it happens in a big public square(skwe(ə)r). Of course, some people actually go to the large public squares and celebrate there. Frequently there is a large object that will “fall” — or be lowered down — from a high location. The most famous public square on New Year’s is Times Square in New York City, where a big ball drops from the roof of One Times Square. In my home state of North Carolina, there is a big acorn(ˈāˌkôrn) that drops from somewhere in some square in Raleigh(ˈrä-,ˈrôlē), the state capital.

I’ve never been much of a partier, so I haven’t been to many of the public celebrations. When I was younger, I would often go to a friend’s house to celebrate the New Year; now, especially since having kids, I’m often in bed before midnight!

In 1999, though, a group of college friends and I decided to drive to New Orleans(ˈôrlēənz, ôrˈlē(ə)nz), a well-know party city, to celebrate the turn of the millennium(məˈlenēəm). We met at my house in NC, and drove my Dad’s Chevy(ˈSHevē) Suburban(səˈbərbən) for the trip. We taped a sign to the back of the car that said, “New Orleans or Bust!” Somewhere along the way we got pulled over for speeding (I was driving), and the first thing the officer said was, “Well, you were going to New Orleans, and you got busted!”. I’m sure we made his day.

We picked up a friend in Atlanta(at-,ətˈlantə), and met another friend in New Orleans. The city is well known for its crazy party scene(sēn) that can last from New Year’s to Mardi(ˈmärdē) Gras(ˌgrä) in March, and the streets were swarming with revelers(ˈrevələr). I don’t remember many details, but there was drinking, nudity(ˈn(y)o͞odətē) and something to do with beads(bēd). I’m still not much of a partier, but I it was a great time with friends, and I’m glad we made the trip.

This year, though, I’m happy to be at home for New Year’s Eve with my wife and our two boys.