Magazine
New Year celebrations
On the night of 31 December and the morning of 1 January, people in many countries all over
the world will celebrate the beginning of a new year. How will they celebrate and how did this
tradition begin?
Before reading
Do the preparation task first. Then read the article and do the exercises.
Preparation task
Match the definitions (a–h) with the vocabulary (1–8).
Vocabulary Definition
1. …… to coincide a. a cereal used for making food or alcohol
2. …… astronomical b. to cover the surrounding land with water
3. …… to flood c. a promise to do something
4. …… to be recorded d. to happen at the same time
5. …… barley e. something done regularly in the same way to mark an
6. …… a ritual important occasion
7. …… a host f. relating to the stars
8. …… a commitment g. to be written down for future reference
h. the person or place that provides space for a special event
New Year celebrations
‘For last year’s words belong to last year’s language
And next year’s words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.’ – TS Eliot
New year, old celebrations
There have been celebrations to mark the beginning of a new year for thousands of years.
Sometimes these were simply an opportunity for people to eat, drink and have fun, but in
some places the festivities were connected to the land or astronomical events. For example,
in Egypt the beginning of the year coincided with when the River Nile flooded, and this
normally happened when the star Sirius rose. The Persians and Phoenicians started their new
year at the spring equinox (this is around 20 March when the Sun shines more or less directly
on the equator and the length of the night and the day are almost the same).
The oldest celebration
The city of Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia was where the first New Year’s celebrations were
recorded about 4,000 years ago. The Babylonians held their celebrations on the first new
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moon after the spring equinox and called this festival Akitu (which comes from the word the
Sumerians used for barley). Barley was cut in Mesopotamia in the spring, and during Akitu
there was a different ritual on each of the 11 days that the celebration lasted. Statues of the
gods were carried through the streets of the city, and in this way the Babylonians believed
that their world had been cleaned to prepare for the new year and a new spring.
Modern celebrations
In many cities all over the world, spectacular fireworks displays take place as soon as the
clock passes midnight on 31 December. In recent years, Sydney in Australia has been the host
to one of the first of these celebrations as New Year arrives there before most other major
international cities. The display takes place in Sydney Harbour, with the Opera House and
Harbour Bridge making it a stunning setting. Fireworks light up the skies in hundreds of cities
as 12 midnight strikes around the globe.
Traditions that live on
There are a number of strange and interesting New Year’s traditions around the world. In
Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay and ‘first footing’ remains a popular custom with
people visiting friends’ and neighbours’ houses just after midnight. The first person who visits
your house should bring a gift as this will mean good luck. In Spain, it is the custom to eat 12
grapes as the bells sound for midnight on 31 December. One grape is eaten at each sound of
the bell and each grape is supposed to bring good luck for each month of the year ahead. In
Brazil, Ecuador, Bolivia, Venezuela and some other Central and South American countries,
people wear special underwear of different colours on New Year’s Eve. Red is supposed to be
good for bringing love in the new year, while yellow is supposed to bring money.
Out with the old, in with the new
The new year is a perfect time to make a change for the better. The tradition of making New
Year’s resolutions is more common in the western hemisphere but also exists in the eastern
hemisphere. This tradition involves a person making a commitment to change an unwanted
habit or behaviour or setting a personal objective. Typical New Year’s resolutions might be to
give up smoking, eat healthier food, do more exercise, become more organised or laugh
more – but really, a New Year’s resolution can be almost anything. However, research
suggests that many New Year’s resolutions fail. Being realistic about the objectives you set
and not making too many New Year’s resolutions might help you to achieve success.
© 2018 British Council [Link]/learnenglish
Tasks
Task 1
Are the sentences true or false?
Answer
1. Many years ago, new year celebrations were almost always held at the True False
time of an astronomical event.
2. During Akitu in ancient Mesopotamia, a variety of rituals took place. True False
3. The way Sydney welcomes the new year is very different from other True False
important cities.
4. ‘First footing’ in Scotland involves people giving presents. True False
5. In Spain, people eat a number of grapes just after midnight during New True False
Year celebrations.
6. Researchers have found out that many people do not succeed in keeping True False
their New Year’s resolutions.
Task 2
Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete the sentences.
1. On 1 January, people in many countries all over the world will hold a ………………………………
(celebrate) to mark the beginning of a new year.
2. In Egypt, the ……………………………… (begin) of the new year was when the River Nile flooded.
3. The spring equinox is when the sun shines almost ……………………………… (direct) on the equator.
4. There are some ……………………………… (interest) New Year’s traditions in different countries.
5. New Year’s resolutions often involve changing an ……………………………… (want) habit such as
spending too much time watching television.
6. It is important to be ……………………………… (real) when it comes to making New Year’s
resolutions.
Discussion
How do you celebrate the new year?
© 2018 British Council [Link]/learnenglish
Answers
Preparation task
1. d
2. f
3. b
4. g
5. a
6. e
7. h
8. c
Task 1
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
Task 2
1. celebration
2. beginning
3. directly
4. interesting
5. unwanted
6. realistic
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