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：

★ 四川省2016届高考英语一轮复习课时作业（34） Module 4 Music 外研版选修6

★ 2016高考英语二轮复习提高阅读能力要加强课外阅读

★ 【北师大版】2014届高考英语一轮复习指导课时作业：Unit 10 B卷 Word版含解析

★ 【浙江专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习课时作业(三十四)选修7Unit 4《Sharing》

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (70)

★ 【北京专用】2014届高考英语一轮复习方案课时作业：必修4 Unit 2 Working the land

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇(41)

★ 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）

★ 2014届高考英语一轮复习精选阅读理解文章六十篇(11)

★ 湖南省汝城二中2014届高考英语一轮复习阅读训练 (25)