NEW YEAR'S EVE & NEW YEAR'S DAY VOCABULARY (ESL)

level: Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated around the world with fireworks, countdowns, and resolutions. This exercise covers the key vocabulary for this festive time of year.

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1. New Year's Day (January 1st) is the first day of the year in the Gregorian (schedule/calendar).

2. New Year's Eve (December 31) is a time for (party/parties) and celebrations. These celebrations culminate with the (ringing/calling) in of the new year at midnight.

3. Many cities around the world have (spectacular/spectacled) fireworks displays at midnight on New Year's Eve. Some of the best known are in Sydney, New York, and London.

4. In New York City, a lot of people (gather/collect) on Times Square to watch the traditional "ball-dropping" ceremony (right/correct) before midnight.

5. A new year's (resolution/resolve) is a decision one makes to change something in the new year, for example - quitting smoking, losing weight, etc.

6. Many people don't follow (through/around) on these (resolutions/resolves).

7. It is quite common to (cheer/toast) the new year with champagne.

8. New Year's Day is an official holiday in many countries. People are most likely given the day off work to (recover/refurbish) from the previous night's parties.

9. In the time before (and after) New Year's Day, many radio and tv stations (broadcast/publish) various "best of the year" lists. Numerous magazines and newspapers (broadcast/publish) the same types of lists.

New Year's Conversation Questions 1. How do you typically celebrate New Year's Eve? Do you stay up until midnight?
2. Do you make New Year's resolutions? Have you ever successfully kept one?
3. How is New Year's celebrated in your country or culture? Are there any unique traditions?
4. What was the highlight of your past year? What are you looking forward to in the coming year?
5. Do you think the New Year is a good time to make big changes in your life? Why or why not?
6. What is the most memorable New Year's celebration you have ever had?

Did you know? The ancient Romans celebrated the New Year on January 1st in honour of Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, gates, and transitions. Our month of January is named after him. However, for much of medieval Europe, the New Year was celebrated on March 25th (Lady Day) or at Easter — January 1st only became the standard in most of Europe after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582.

The tradition of making New Year's resolutions dates back about 4,000 years to the ancient Babylonians, who made promises to their gods at the start of each year — usually to repay debts and return borrowed items.