The New Year Around the World
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™ People, Places, and Cultures Baby, You’re a Firework pg. 34 • Making a Splash! pg. 26 THE NEW YEAR AROUND THE WORLD JANUARY 2016 MYSTERY PHOTO? People, Places, and Cultures Editor: Elizabeth Crooker Carpentiere Art Director: John Sandford Designer: John Hansen Copy Editor: Terri Ouellet Proofreader: Patricia Silvestro Rights and Permissions Coordinator: Christine Voboril ADVISORY BOARD Sarah Witham Bednarz, Assistant Professor of Geography, Co-coordinator Texas Alliance for Geographic Education, Texas A&M University Diane L. Brooks, Ed.D., Director (retired), Curriculum Frameworks and Instructional Resources Office, California Department of Education Ken Burns, Florentine Films Maryann Manning, Professor, School of Education, University of Alabama Shawn Reynolds, Director, Indiana University International Resource Center Carol Johnson Shedd, Outreach Coordinator (retired), Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies Sandra Stotsky, Professor of Education Reform, 21st Century Chair in Teacher Quality, University of Arkansas Barbara Brown, Director, African Studies Center Outreach Program at Boston University Gale Ekiss, Co-Coordinator, Arizona Geographic Alliance, Arizona State University A 2014 Parents’ Choice Gold Honor Winner Member, Classroom Publishers Association Indexed and/or Abstracted in: Children’s Magazine Guide, Primary Search and Middle Search, Readers’ Guide for Young People, Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature, Vertical File Index, CobblestoneOnline.net Visit our online index at: www.cobblestonepub.com/indexing/ Editorial and Marketing office: FACES, Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Tel: 312-701-1720. FACES: People, Places, and Cultures (ISSN 0749-1387) (USPS 743-910) is published monthly with combined issues in May/June, July/August, and November/December Do you know what this is? by Cobblestone Publishing, a division of Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Tel: 312-701-1720. Periodicals postage paid at Herndon, VA, and Answer is on page 48. at additional mailing offices. One-year subscription (9 issues) $33.95; $15 additional per year outside the U.S. (includes Canadian GST/HST). Please remit in U.S. funds (GST #130428204). Prices subject to change. Back issue prices available on request. For SUBSCRIPTIONS, CHANGE OF ADDRESS, and ADJUSTMENTS, write to FACES at Cricket Media, PO Box 6395, Harlan, IA 51593. Please give both new address and ABOUT THE COVER old address as printed on last label. Allow six to eight weeks for change of address. POSTMASTER: Please send change of address to FACES, Cricket Media, PO Box 6395, Happy New Year! People around the globe Harlan, IA 51593. ring in the new year with parties and parades. Copyright ©2016 by Cricket Media. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the content is illegal without written permission from the publisher. Not responsible © Nick Savage/Alamy for unsolicited manuscripts or other material. All letters assumed for publication become the property of Cricket Media. For information regarding our privacy policy and compliance with the Children’s On-line Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), please visit our web site at www. cobblestonepub.com or write to Cricket Media/ COPPA, Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Editorial correspondence: FACES, Cricket Media, 70 E. Lake Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60601. Printed in the United States of America. www.facebook.com/Cobblestone.Publishing www.facebook.com/Faces/Magazine FEATURES 6 New Year’s Celebrations Through the Ages 8by Christine Graf Ringing in the New Year With Red Underwear 12 by Christine Graf Hog Wild for Hogmanay 14by Marcia Amidon Lusted 6 New Year’s Eve New York City Style 18 by Christine Graf 12 The Oldest New Year’s Party: Celebrating Nayrouz 22 by Elizabeth Elkins Songkran 26 by Ruth Rodgers Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year 30 by Debra Friedland Katz Hijri: The Islamic New Year 12 36by Marcia Amidon Lusted Holiday of Hope 38 by Debbie Detering 14 The Chinese Zodiac 42 by Sarah Novak DEPARTMENTS 2 High 5 20 4 At a Glance ACTIVITIES 6 Critter Corner 25 New Year’s Crossword 33 Where in the World? 41 Fallen Quote 34 Closer Look 26 41 Face Facts 46 Art Connection 48 Guest Review; Say What? CONTEST 49 One Last Face 48 Fireworks for Kids! 34 C HIGH FIVE ireworks, noise makers, the countdown to midnight F. Happy New Year! The start of a new year is a reason for celebration around the world. But the December 31 party in New York City’s Times Square is not the only way to ring in the New Year – it’s not even the only time of year people recognize the start of a new year! Read on to find out more about New Year’s celebrations around the world. 1. Welcome to the Year of the Monkey! According to the Chinese zodiac, those born this year will be intelligent, mischievous, and quick learners. Legend says that Buddha called for all the animals and the 12 that arrived each had a year named in its honor. 2. New Year’s celebrations have been taking place for thousands of years. In ancient Mesopotamia, a ritual included slapping the king so hard he cried! If his tears flowed freely, the god of creation would be pleased with him. 3. Do you have a lucky item? Maybe a lucky penny or a pair of lucky socks? In many cultures red is a symbol of good fortune, and in Turkey and Mexico people wear red underwear to ring in the New Year as a way of ensuring good luck throughout the coming year. 2 4. Torchlights and parades are a common sight on Hogmanay, the traditional Scottish New Year celebration. The smoke from the fire was believed to ward off evil spirits. 5. L’Shana Tovah! This is Hebrew for “to a good year!” and is said on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is observed for two days in September or early October and celebrates the birthday of the world. 3 AT A GLANCE New Ye ar’s Eve Thr ough the Time Zones 4 5 CRITTER CORNER KEY BUSIN MON ESS The pygmy marmoset is the world’s smallest known monkey. Isn’t it adorable? by Pat Betteley elcome to 2016, the Chinese “Year of the It turns out that there is more to the classifying WMonkey.” According to legend, Buddha monkey-business than meets the eye. Currently, asked all the animals to meet him on the Chinese there are about 264 known species of monkey New Year. Only 12 animals showed up. Buddha worldwide, which can be divided into two groups. named a year after each one, and announced that The Old World monkey (example, baboon) lives people born in each animal’s year would have in Asia and Africa, while the New World monkey some of the characteristics of that (example, marmoset) lives in South animal. Astrologers (people who try America. People often confuse apes, such to relate the position of the stars to as chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas, human lives) believe that people with monkeys. Scientifically though, they born in the Year of the Monkey are are not the same. Most apes are larger than intelligent, mischievous, and learn monkeys, have no tail, and are built for a life quickly. If you were born in a Year of the Monkey in the trees and on the ground, whereas monkeys (2004, 1992, 1980, and so on, in a 12-year cycle), are built to live in trees. you have some famous company, including With so many species, and so little space in Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, and Christina which to describe them, let us examine a few Aguilera. standouts in the Monkey Hall of Fame. 6 • The pygmy marmoset wins “Smallest Monkey” STATS honors, weighing between 120-140 grams (.3 pounds). Scientific Name: Macaca fascicul aris Diet: omnivores that eat fruit, seeds, • The award for “Largest Monkey” goes to the mandrill insects, and reptiles at about 35 kg (77 pounds). Life Span: 10-30 years • Capuchin monkeys claim “Smartest Monkey” status, Habitat: tropical forests, grasslands, as they are skilled at using tools to help them get and and mountainous plains eat food. A capuchin monkey will smash nuts with Predators: birds, snakes, wildcats rocks, insert branches into cracks to capture food, and use large branches to club snakes. FAST FACTS • Spider monkeys have earned the “Long Limbs and • Monkeys have unique fingerprints, Tail” award. They can swing arm-to-arm in trees, just like humans. unlike most monkeys who run across branches. • Unlike humans and apes, monkeys do not catch the common cold. • The “Loud and Proud” award goes to the howler monkey. Its booming howl can be heard up to 10 miles away. • The “Longest Nose” winner is the proboscis monkey that lives in southern Australia and on the island of The howler Borneo. monkey lives up to its name. Its screech can be Although different monkey species eat a variety heard up to 10 of foods and live in different habitats, they have a lot miles away. in common. Most monkeys have tails that help them swing and walk easily on branches of trees. Their fingers and their toes allow them to grasp easily, so they can peel their bananas and not eat the unpleasant-tasting skin. Monkeys are very sociable. They use vocalizations and facial expressions to communicate, and show affection by grooming each other. (That is, they pick yummy bugs from their friend’s fur.) Though friendly toward humans, some species are agricultural pests that damage crops. Monkeys that live in tropical forests You’ve heard (a habitat that is quickly disappearing) are seriously of Spider-Man, but have you threatened by habitat loss. heard of Spider In the tradition of the versatile and fun-loving star of Monkey? our show, may your 2016 be more fun than .