Worldwide weird: Odd ways to ring in the New Year

美国各地奇怪的跨年方式

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.

每年最后一天的夜晚，纽约时代广场上的水晶球降落仪式都是万众瞩目的焦点，吸引百万游客驻足观看， 另有超过10亿的观众通过电视一同分享这一盛事。

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.

然而，许多的城市都有自己的不一样的跨年方式。伴着一年最后的时间滴答溜走的声音，这些地区纷纷启动自己的城市象征的降落仪式，只是降落的不再是水晶球，而是松果和菠萝。

Pinecone Drop, Flagstaff, Arizona

亚利桑那州的弗拉格斯塔夫：松果

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 aluminium pinecone has dropped from the 112-year-old Weatherford Hotel since 1999.

亚利桑那一般会跟仙人掌而不是松果联系在一起。但是，北部的弗拉格斯塔夫却拥有美国大陆最大的黄松林。自1999年起，每年最后一天的午夜时分，都会有一个宽5英尺，高7英尺金银相间的铝制松果从有着112年历史的维勒夫特酒店楼顶降落，庆祝新年的到来。

Great Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop, Eastport, Maine

缅因州的东港：沙丁鱼和枫叶

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 neighbouring 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.

这里是美国唯一一个跨两次年的地方。作为美国最东边的城市，东港每年都会在12月31日晚11点，先落下一个4英尺宽的枫叶，庆祝邻边加拿大小镇新不伦瑞克的新年。 然后在午夜时分，落下一只长达8英尺的沙丁鱼，庆祝自己的新年。这只巨大的沙丁鱼同时也象征着东港经久不衰的沙丁鱼罐头产业。

Moon Pie Drop, Mobile, Alabama

阿拉巴马州的莫比尔 ：月亮饼

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.

虽然月亮饼是在田纳西的查塔努加做的，但是莫比尔与它之间的美丽情缘却可以追溯到1956年。那时候，莫比尔人会在四月斋前的狂欢节上互相投掷这种包着软糖的点心。一直到了2008年，月亮馅饼才登上了跨年夜的舞台，莫比尔人用降落一个12英尺高的仿真月亮饼的方式来迎接新年。尽管只有3年的历史，这个仪式现在已有了专属的纪念歌曲。

Walleye Drop, Lake Clinton, Ohio

俄亥俄州的克林顿湖 ：碧古鱼

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-flavoured popcorn.

自1996年起，伊利湖边的这个小镇上的降落仪式主角是一只长20英尺，重600磅的碧古鱼。人们举行隆重的户外庆祝仪式(气温经常低至0°C 以下)。庆典上有美味的碧古鱼杂烩，三明治，甚至还有碧古鱼味的爆米花.

Pineapple Drop, Honolulu, Hawaii

夏威夷的火鲁努努：菠萝

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-mâché pineapple from the 10-storey Kahala Resort in Oahu. The event can be seen from the beach or the hotel.

夏威夷是美国最晚迎来新年的地方。为迎接新年的到来，一个重达200磅的纸质菠萝将从10层楼高的卡哈拉酒店楼顶降落。不管是在海边还是酒店，都可以看到这一仪式。