Celebrations are fun. The celebration Ilike the most here in NYC is New Year. It's really great because there's a big silver ball on a building on Times Square. During the last minute of the old year, it slowly drops down until it's exactly midnight, then everyone screams and goes crazy. People throw confetti and balloons from all the buildings, and there are fireworks too. I don't like crowds, so I don't go there, but we always watch it on TV. When the balloon drops, we scream and crazy - just like the people on the street. It's fun and it brings everyone togethe Anna (14) Rebt Ф My favourite holiday is Halloween. It's the only night of the year when young kids are allowed to go out at night. When I was younger, I loved to dress up in a scary costume for "trick or treat" - that means going from door to door with friends and getting candy from everyone. I always gave the candy to my little sister. I'm too old for that now, but this year we were allowed to wear costumes to school on Halloween - I was a ballet dancer! We hada 2 the end of the day. Oh, and on Halloween lots of people have shaving creamt3 Emily (14) e Q) b) F I think Christmas is my favourite holiday. At my school most of the kids -- including those from other religions - get into the "holiday spirit". My favourite thing in New York City at Christmas is the giant Christmas tree (it is really GIGANTIC!) at Rockefeller Center with lights and beautiful decorations. People from all over the world come and visit this tree. There are other reasons why I like Christmas: I get presents and new clothes, and the next holiday, New Year, is only a week away. Erwin (14)these Before they sit down to eat their turkey, millions of people all over America watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade on TV, with all the huge balloons of characters like Snoopy and Kermit. It's this parade every November that makes Thanksgiving my favourite holiday because I love balloons and I live right on the street where they blow up the balloons. This happens on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and hundreds of people come to tch. Everyone has to stay behind a police barricade. But I can cross the barricade ause I live there! I get a special feeling when I think that so many people are loking at "my" balloons at the parade on Thanksgiving. gbecca (15) the I enjoy Saint Patrick's Day on March 17. I'm not really Irish, but everyone's Irish on St Patrick's Day. Lots of people put on green clothes. Why green? Because it's the colour of Ireland. In fact, everything is green on this day: even bagels and beer. And the parade is great of course, although I don't usually enjoy parades. Last year my sister was in the parade with her school band. Tom (13) I like fireworks, so I like the Fourth of July - Independence Day. In New York City they launch some fantastic fireworks from boats in the East River. I also like good food, and the food at our big family picnic is great. I play volleyball with all my cousins and eat tons of hamburgers and watermelon. Chris (14) b) Find these words twice in the texts: once with and once without the. Explain how the meanings are different. balloons • candy • food • parades