Origin of the New Year’s Celebration

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

How the world started welcoming the New Year in over 4,000 years ago

Pre-listening vocabulary

• celebrate: to honour a holiday with a party or ceremony
• festive: cheerful and exciting, especially because of a holiday
• resolution: a goal for the new year
• improve: to become better in some way
• take place: to happen
• introduce: to put something new into use

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

The Origin of the New Year’s Celebration

Today, New Year’s is a festive holiday celebrated all the world. The tradition began 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, where the people celebrated each year with an 11-day . Even back then, people made New Year’s resolutions. They believed that making to improve themselves helped to make sure the gods would stay with the kingdom. During that time, the celebration took place in March, but a new was introduced over 1,000 years later in Ancient Rome. Since then, New Year’s has mostly been celebrated on January 1st.

Comprehension questions

1. The tradition of celebrating New Year's began

1,000 years ago

3,000 years ago

4,000 years ago

Correct! Wrong!

The tradition of celebrating New Year's began 4,000 years ago.

2. The people of ancient Mesopotamia made resolutions because

they wanted to improve themselves

they wanted to make the gods happy

they wanted to make their kingdom a better place

Correct! Wrong!

The people of ancient Mesopotamia made resolutions because they wanted to make the gods happy.

3. Originally, the New Year's celebration took place in

January

March

November

Correct! Wrong!

Originally, the New Year's celebration took place in March.

Discussion/essay questions

1. Do you have any resolutions this year? How do you plan to achieve them?

Transcript

The Origin of the New Year’s Celebration
Today, New Year’s is a festive holiday celebrated all around the world. The tradition began 4,000 years ago in ancient Mesopotamia, where the people celebrated each year with an 11-day festival. Even back then, people made New Year’s resolutions. They believed that making promises to improve themselves helped to make sure the gods would stay happy with the kingdom. During that time, the celebration took place in March, but a new calendar was introduced over 1,000 years later in Ancient Rome. Since then, New Year’s has mostly been celebrated on January 1st.

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Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

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11 comments

• Maryam says:
  

  that’s great

  thank you

• phuong thy says:
  

  I really like this story!
  it sounds good
  I didn’t know that

• The King Of Love From IRAN says:
  

  I wish all of you LOVE & PEACE,

• christina says:
  

  wow!It is very nice story.I lke it

• Neveen raafat says:
  

  Hello every one
  I-am an Egyptian and interested in english language , but l have a big problem with listening and i hope to improve listening and speaking with you .
  With my best wishes and celebration
  For the new year .❤️❤️🥰🥰🥰

• Rogelio Bustamante says:
  

  Thank you for all the teachers who spend their precious time to teach us.

• su says:
  

  Hi everyone, Happy New Year! I’m new to English club and not young person either. but I like to learn and most importantly communicate with English. I’ve no chance of meeting people or pay for a teacher to speak with me via modern social media.
  it’s a very interesting lesson and informative as well. same time thank you Bijan about your new year.

  thank you for all the teachers who spend their precious time to teach us.

• Jaksyn Peacock says:
  

  Hi Bijan,

  Thank you for your comment, and for the extra information on the Iranian New Year. I will be sure to do some reading on it!

• Bijan says:
  

  Hi Jaksyn!

  Wonderful!
  Wonderful!

  First, Welcome to this part of English Club and Happy New Year 2020!
  I wish you health, love and peace in 2020!

  Second, I was surprised when I saw your voice is like the voice of Teacher Tara because when I was listening to your speaking I felt Teacher Tara is speaking.
  It’s so wonderful that your voices are like each other.

  Third, you have spoken so slowly and clearly that I could understand the subject well without seeing the text.
  In addition, I could answer all answers of comprehension correctly and fill in the blanks all words.

  Thank you so much for the best beginning in the first of Listen & Learn. You gave me positive energy for continuing my learning English language.

  Fourth, it’s so interesting to know about the origin of the new year’s celebration. I myself didn’t know about it at all.
  Maybe, it will be interesting for you and other students that Iranian New Year always begins in the first day of spring and it is celebrated in many countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iraq, India, Pakistan and other countries. It is famous as Nowruz.

  Please, for more information refer to Wikipedia:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

  Teacher Jaksyn,
  I hope all of us to be good students for you.

  Thanks again and best wishes,
  Bijan
  from the Persian Gulf

• NithishAbel says:
  

  good story ever i seen like this

• David Jackson says:
  

  Nice story! I never knew that 😊