It might seem like child's play to us.

Cartoonist Bob Eckstein tells us how people have been making snowmen for centuries.

It is one of the most recognizable non-religious icons and symbols in the world.

Coming up, we'll learn the history of the snowman.

Guides from Rome offer tips for visiting the Vatican, including seeing its art treasures.

VIPs would come to see the Pope, and he would show them his collection.

Try to do a little peak in the pinocetica. Very few people go there.

Guides from France remind us that you need to twist the bottle, not the cork, when you open champagne,

so it doesn't explode all over everybody.

What you really want to do is just make it burp.

You want to make it sigh.

And revisit the Scottish rituals for greeting the new year

that promise you friendship and good luck.

You have to have a piece of black coal, a wee piece of cake,

and a wee bottle of whiskey.

Come celebrate with us in the hour ahead on Travel with Rick Steves.

What kind of year do you expect lies ahead?

Coming up on today's Travel with Rick Steves,

we'll remind you of a few time-tested traditions they do in Edinburgh

for good luck to usher in the new year.

We'll also open a bottle of proper French champagne the way they teach you to do it in France.

And we'll get you ready to visit Vatican City during the busy Jubilee year festivities.

...