Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2015, as we mark another year over and look towards a bright and happy 365 days. The big Christmas bellies are finally finished with partying and filling up with food and now it is time to start losing the weight.

There are many traditions related to New Year in the UK. More than anything, it is a time to be with family and loved ones. Despite having eaten so much food at Christmas, my family traditionally still comes together for a nice meal in one of our houses on New Year's Eve. We eat lots of different food that we have left after Christmas. Normally there are a lot of sweets and fizzy drinks left from the week before. We also play games together and remember funny stories from throughout the year.

As it approaches midnight, we all gather in front of the television to watch one of the many shows that count down to the new year. We watch the highlights of the previous year's events and bands playing live. As the countdown approaches we all stand together in a circle. As the countdown begins we all cross our arms and hold each other's hands. When the countdown reaches zero, we welcome in the new year by singing Auld Lang Syne, the famous poem by Scottish poet Robert Burns turned into a song. We do this to wish everyone well in the upcoming year and to remember the year we have had together.

When the new year is brought in there are fireworks displays all over the UK to celebrate its arrival. The biggest occur in the largest cities but the most famous is in Edinburgh. New Year's Eve is called Hogmanay in Scotland and the fireworks display and live bands are undoubtedly some of the best in the world. Everyone gathers in the main street and park to watch as the fireworks are set off from Edinburgh Castle in a spectacular show that you will remember for the whole year.

At the start of each year, people in the UK make resolutions which are promises we will keep for the year and hopefully beyond. These can range from being nicer to our family and friends to giving up smoking or helping the poor. We try to keep these for as long as possible. One of mine is to get healthier by going to the gym.