English introduction to American New Year

Worldwide weird: Odd ways to ring in the New Year

Odd ways to ring in the New Year

Drawing more than one million visitors in person and one billion viewers on TV, New York City's Times Square ball drop is one of the most watched events in the world.

On the night of the last day of every year, the crystal ball landing ceremony in Times Square in New York City is the focus of attention, attracting millions of tourists to stop and watch, and more than 1 billion viewers share this event through television. .

But many cities across the United States prefer to put their own spin on the now traditional event. From pinecones to pineapples, these regions lower their own oversized symbols as the last seconds of the old year tick away.

However, many cities have their own different ways of celebrating New Year's Eve. With the sound of the last time of the year ticking away, these regions have started the landing ceremony of their own city symbols, but instead of the crystal ball, the landing is pinecones and pineapples.

Pinecone Drop, Flagstaff, Arizona

Flagstaff, Arizona: Pinecones

Arizona is more likely to be associated with cactus than pinecones , but Flagstaff, in the northern part of the state, has the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the continental United States. The 5ft-by-7ft gold and silver aluminum pinecone has dropped from the 112-year-old Weatherford Hotel since 1999.< /p>

Arizona is generally associated with cacti rather than pine cones. However, Flagstaff to the north has the largest ponderosa pine forest in the continental United States. Since 1999, at midnight on the last day of every year, a 5-foot-wide and 7-foot-tall gold and silver aluminum pinecone has descended from the roof of the 112-year-old Villeft Hotel to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

Great Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop, Eastport, Maine

Eastport, Maine: Sardines and Maple Leaf Drop

The only place in America where the New Year is rung in twice in one night, the easternmost city in the United States drops a 4ft-wide maple leaf at 11 pm to celebrate the New Year in neighboring New Brunswick, Canada, and drops an 8ft-long sardine at midnight to ring in their own New Year, commemorating Eastport's longstanding sardine canning industry.

This is the only place in the United States that celebrates two New Years. As the easternmost city in the United States, Eastport will first drop a 4-foot-wide maple leaf at 11 pm on December 31 every year to celebrate the New Year in the neighboring Canadian town of New Brunswick. Then at midnight, an 8-foot-long sardine falls to celebrate the New Year. This huge sardine also symbolizes the long-lasting sardine canned industry in Donggang.

Moon Pie Drop, Mobile, Alabama

Moon Pie Drop, Mobile, Alabama: Moon Pie Drop

Though moon pies are made in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mobile has had a love affair with the marshmallow-filled treats since they were first thrown in Mardi Gras celebrations in 1956. The 12ft-tall moon pie replica has only been dropping on New Year's Eve since 2008, but the event already has its very own commemorative song .

Although Mooncakes are made in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the beautiful relationship between Mobile and them can be traced back to 1956. Back then, Mobile people would throw these jellybean-coated treats at each other during a pre-Lent carnival. It wasn't until 2008 that the moon pie took the stage on New Year's Eve, when people in Mobile welcomed the New Year by landing a 12-foot-tall simulated moon pie. Although only three years old, the ceremony now has its own commemorative song.

Walleye Drop, Lake Clinton, Ohio

Walleye Drop, Lake Clinton, Ohio: Walleye Fish

A 20ft, 600-pound walleye fish has made an appearance in this Lake Erie town since 1996. Residents hold an entire outdoor celebration (where the temperatures can often be well below freezing) with walleye chowder, sandwiches and even walleye-flavored popcorn.

Since 1996, the star of the landing ceremony in this small town on Lake Erie has been a 20-foot-long, 600-pound walleye. People hold grand outdoor celebrations (temperatures often drop below 0°C). The celebration included delicious bagel chowder, sandwiches, and even bagel-flavored popcorn.

Pineapple Drop, Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii: Pineapple

The last time zone in the US to leave the old year behind, Hawaii sends it off in style by lowering a 200-pound papier-maché pineapple from the 10-storey Kahala Resort in Oahu. The event can be seen from the beach or the hotel.

Hawaii is the latest place in the United States to welcome the New Year. To ring in the new year, a 200-pound paper pineapple will descend from the rooftop of the 10-story Kahala Hotel. This ceremony can be seen whether at the beach or in a hotel.