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Level 2 – Pre-intermediate
Hogmanay
Hogmanay is the Scottish New Year which is celebrated with great enthusiasm every year on the 31st December. In the cities it has become an enormous annual event. In Edinburgh and Glasgow huge street parties are held for over one hundred thousand people.
In country areas it is customary to hold Scottish dances or ceilidhs as they are called in Gaelic. There is traditional Scottish music and dancing. There are also ceremonies with fire processions and huge bonfires. The Hogmanay fire symbolises a number of things, including the light of future knowledge. The origins of the festival go back to pagan times when people worshipped the sun and fire in the middle of winter. Later, this turned into the ancient Saturnalia, a great Roman festival.
Many of the ancient traditions are still alive in the small villages and country areas. At midnight it is customary for people to kiss each other and sing the traditional Auld Lang Syne. After midnight people visit friends and family and exchange gifts.
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Answer the questions below to check how well you understand the text.
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C2 Mastery
