The Dutch build massive bonfires with their Christmas trees and eat sugary donuts -- one of many cultures to consume round New Year's foods traditionally believed to represent good fortune.

Spaniards, in turn, gobble a dozen grapes before the stroke of midnight, each fruit representing a month that will either be sweet or sour.

In the Philippines, revellers wear polka dots for good luck, while in some countries of South America people don brightly coloured underwear to attract fortune -- red for love and yellow for financial success.

Despite regional and cultural differences, for most the New Year's festivities are a chance to let off steam before the annual cycle starts all over again.

"This is a holiday that is about relaxation and letting go," explained George Washington University sociologist Amitai Etzioni.

【2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇(36)】相关文章：

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍短文改错：名校模拟（含解析）

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇(41)

★ 安徽省淮南市2014高考英语一轮单项选择及文章训练（15）及答案

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (25)

★ 安徽省淮南市2014高考英语一轮单项选择及文章训练（14）及答案

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇(11)

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(二十五)必修5Unit 5《First aid》

★ 2017届高考英语二轮复习大题冲关秘籍语法填空：考纲解读（含解析）

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (47)

★ 2016高考英语二轮复习提高阅读能力要加强课外阅读