Miss Carson's class presented the first class assembly of 2008, looking at
New Year Traditions

All over the world, people of different religions and cultures celebrate a variety of New Year Festivals at different times of the year. Most of them, however, keep to the European system starting on January 1st.

In some places, the change from the old year to the new is marked with very little celebration, but in most places it is at least an occasion for a party.

New Year celebrations are very important to the people of Scotland, who celebrate 'Hogmonay'. Festivities begin on New Year's Eve and carry on until New Year's Day.

The high-point of the celebration is at 12 midnight, as the old year ends and the new one begins. People go out into the street and sing 'Auld Lang Syne', written by the famous Scottish Poet, Robbie Burns. This tradition is now popular in many countries around the world.

Another important tradition in Scotland and the North of England is that of 'First Footing'. It is believed that, in order to bring good luck, the first person to enter the house in the New Year should be a tall dark man. The first-footer should bring a number of small gifts. These gifts vary from place to place, but commonly include a piece of coal, bread and money. These represent the wish for warmth, food and prosperity for everyone in the household.

Other New Year customs include ringing out the old year with muffled bells and then, at the turn of the New Year, the bells are rung out loud and clear. A special cake may be baked for the New Year, particularly in the North of England. It is cooked using the same recipe as a Christmas Cake, but without the marzipan.

In some parts of Wales, children bring fresh water into the house and sprinkle it around using a green branch. This is to represent prosperity and new growth as the New Year begins.

In Japan, New Year is the most important festival of the year. Celebrations begin on January 1st and go on for 6 days. First, people clean their homes and decorate them using special symbols to bring them good luck. New Year's Day begins with a drink of fresh well water, and special foods are eaten. Traders decorate their trucks and carts before loading them up with the goods they sell. On the last day, everyone takes the decorations down and the New Year begins in earnest.

The day for taking decorations down in the United Kingdom is January 6th, also called 'Twelfth Night'. This date marks the end of the Christmas season, or 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'.

In the Christian calender, January 6th is known as Epiphany - marking the day when the Wise Men visited the baby Jesus. Many legends have grown up around this story - the tale of Baboushka is perhaps the most famous.

The children closed their assembly with a prayer and by leading us in the singing of the hymn, 'One More Step'.

"And it's from the old I travel to the new.
Keep me travelling along with you."