CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR IN JAPAN AND GREECE

The Nakanishi family lives in Sonora and they always celebrate New Year’s Eve in Mexico.
But this year is different. The Nakanishi family will go to Japan to celebrate. They will stay
with Mrs. Nakanishi’s brother. Mr Nakanishi will send many greeting cards to co-workers
and relatives in Mexico. Mrs. Nakanishi will help clean the house and will prepare the special
food called “osechi ryori”. On New Year`s Eve the Nakanishi family will go to a Buddhist
temple to take part on ringing the temple bell 108 times. This is a sacred number for
Buddhist and this ceremony will allow the year to begin free of evil. The Nakanishis will pray
for good health and prosperity and they will say “Akemashite, Omedeto Gozaimasu!” This
means “Happy New Year!” In the evening, the Nakanishi family will play traditional card
games.

In Greece, people will celebrate the New Year in a different way. The New Year is called
Protohronia and Saint Basil (Greek Santa Claus) will deliver gifts for children. People will
exchange gifts and will gather in the town’s center. At midnight, Greeks will eat a cake called
vasilopita with a gold coin will have a good year. There will be fireworks and people will sing
Greek carols on the main plazas.
As a custom, people will give money to visiting children and grandchildren, as they believe
it brings good luck. Greeks celebrate the New Year for many days.
How people will celebrate in…

Japan Greece
1. People will give money to children and grandchildren.
2. People will go to the temples to pray.
3. People will participate in ringing the temple bell.
4. People will exchange gifts.
5. People will eat a cake that has a coin inside.
6. People will play card games.

A. What will Saint Basil deliver to children?

___________________________________________________________________
B. What food will the Nakanishis prepare?
___________________________________________________________________
C. What will Greeks eat at midnight?
___________________________________________________________________
D. What games will the Nakanishis play?
___________________________________________________________________
 Choose the correct option.

a. I will disguise as a vampire on _____________________

1. Thanksgiving Day 2. Halloween

b. They will decorate the tree on __________________

1. Christmas 2. Father’s Day

c. We’ll give presents to our Dad on __________________

1. Mother’s Day 2. Father’s Day

d. She’ll cook a turkey on ___________________

1. Thanksgiving Day 2. Halloween

e. Kids will receive gifts from Santa Claus on ______________

1. Halloween 2. Christmas

Tony’s Plans…
Tomorrow I am going to go to my Tae Kwon Do class. I am going to have a competition next
month, so I need to practice a lot. Next week I am going to go out with my friends and visit
the new mall. I am not going to buy anything right now. Maybe, I am going to get a job
there, so I am going to see if there are any jobs.
Next weekend I am going to visit my family in Hermosillo, so I am going to have to practice
Tae Kwon Do at my parent’s house. I am really excited to see them. We are going to go
diving in the sheltered caves and underwater cliffs. I am going to try and golf which should
be fun! What are you going to do???

Answer the following questions.

1. What is Tony going to do tomorrow?

2. Where is Tony going to go with his friends next week?

3. Where is Tony going to go visit next weekend?

4. Who is Tony going to visit next weekend?