Show Holiday Fetes etes I Basically Same I Food Visits Common I Mark of New Year While New Year celebrations in all aU countries are basically similar there are many interesting variations variations variations varia varia- and special features For example example ex ex- ex- ex ample the Kings King's honor list provides provides pro pro- vides great interest and excitement in England In France and Germany the holiday holiday hollday holi holl- day is marked by festivities resembling resembling re re- re those in the United States and the great cities such as Paris take on a carnival atmosphere on New Years Year's Eve Poland Lithuania and Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Czech Czech- I observe New Year with a round of calls caUs by the people and with official rece In these countries table tables are plied piled high with food and drink and vast quantities of both are arc consumed on the eve of the new year as well wen as on New Years Year's Day Gifts Gilts too are arc exchanged A gold coin is baked In a cake by New Years Year's celebrants in Greece On New Years Year's morning the cake is cut into as many slices i d j r r d as there are members of the family family fam fam- i ily y and the one receiving the coin is considered to have much good goodluck goodluck goodluck luck in store for him Huge bonfires are arc built by peasants of Bulgaria as a New Years Year's greeting to their friends in near by villages It is on this day also that Bulgarians announce announce announce an an- army promotions Carol singing is an important feature of the Bulgarian celebrations In Sweden one form of observance observance observance ance is that of high officials inscribing inscribing inscribing in in- scribing their names in a huge book at t the palace of the king This appears to be in lieu of an official reception In this northern land it itis itis itis is the custom also to drive to church in sleighs early on New Years Year's morning Torches are carved carried carried car car- ried ved to light the way |