World Book Day falls on April 23 every year. It was set up by the UNESCN (联合国教科文组织) in 1955 to encourage people to discover the pleasure of reading. It means you read a book out of interest not because your teachers or parents tell you to do so. “Reading for pleasure” plays a more important role in one’s growth than one’s family background.

Books, magazines, newspapers and other kinds of materials can help us know more about the outside world and perfect (使完美) us. However, computer games, online videos and the Internet are pushing books off the shelf. Some experts believe it’s a worrying trend (趋势). And now, many bookstores close their doors because many books lovers start to buy fewer books than before.

However, many people still love reading because it has been part of their life. The more we read, the more we know. The more we know, the smarter we become. It’s never too late to start reading. So jump into the wonderful world of books now!

The Spirit of Christmas

Many would agree that when we think of Christmas, we probably think of gifts, Christmas trees and Santa Claus. But behind all these things lies the true meaning of Christmas: the importance of sharing and giving love and joy to people around us. The story in A Christmas Carol is perhaps the best example of this.

A Christmas Carol is famous novel written by Charles Dickens. It is about an old man named Scrooge who never laughs or smiles. He is mean. He only thinks about himself and never treats others nicely. He just cares about whether he can make more money and he hates Christmas. One Christmas Eve, Scrooge sees the ghost（鬼） of Jacob Marley, his dead business partner. Marley used to be just like Scrooge, so he is punished（惩罚）after he dies. He warns Scrooge to change his ways if he doesn't want to end up like him. He also tells Scrooge to expect three spirits to visit him.

That night, three ghosts visit Scrooge. First, the Ghost of Christmas Past takes him back to his childhood and reminds Scrooge of his happier days as a child. Then the second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes him to see how others are spending Christmas this year. Everyone is happy, even poor people. The last one, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, takes him to the future. Scrooge sees that he is dead, but nobody cares. He is so frightened that he wakes up in his bed and finds out it is only the next morning—Christmas Day!

He decides to change his life and promises to be a better person. He happily celebrates Christmas with his relatives. He also gives gifts to people in need. He now treats everyone with kindness and warmth, spreading love and joy everywhere he goes. And that is the true spirit of Christmas!

How do you usually celebrate New Year’s Eve? By getting together with your family, or singing karaoke with your friends? Perhaps you’d like to take a look at how people in other countries celebrate this big day.

In the US, thousands of people gather in Times Square in New York City to welcome the new year at midnight. Starting at 11:59 pm, people count down the seconds as the New Year’s Eve Ball slowly drops down. When it hits the bottom at 12 pm and lights a sign that reads “Happy New Year”, fireworks are set off.

In Scotland, UK, fireworks go off in front of Edinburgh Castle. After midnight, people sing Auld Lang Syne(《友谊地久天长》). The words are in Scottish and mean “days gone by”. The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote the song in 1788.

In Brazil, most people wear white clothes on New Year’s Eve to bring good luck for the new year. If they live near a beach, people go there after midnight, light candles in the sand, throw flowers in the sea, and make a wish.

In Ireland, people strike(击打) the doors and walls of the house with Christmas bread to chase bad luck out of the house.

Spanish people also celebrate the New Year in a different way. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone eats 12 grapes. They eat one grape for each toll(钟声) to bring good luck for the next 12 months of the new year.