Ancient New Year
учебно-методический материал по английскому языку по теме

Pre-reading task.

Do you like holidays? What is your favourite holiday? Why? Do you like New Year? Why? How do you celebrate it? Do you give any presents to your relatives? Do you have any New Year traditions in your family? 

New Year

  "Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks of 2013 as a new year gets under way. But the day celebrated as New Year's Day in modern America was not always January 1.

Ancient New Years

The celebration of the New year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring).

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the New year in late March, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.

In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

Fill in the missing prepositions:

"Happy New Year!" That greeting will be said and heard for … least the first couple … weeks of 2013 as a new year gets … way. But the day celebrated … New Year's Day in modern America was not always January 1.

Ancient New Years

The celebration … the new year is the oldest … all holidays. It was first observed … ancient Babylon … 4000 years ago. … the years … 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began … the first New Moon (actually the first visible cresent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day … spring).

The beginning … spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. January 1, … the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.

The Babylonian new year celebration lasted … eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale … comparison.

The Romans continued to observe the new year …  late March, but their calendar was continually tampered … by various emperors so that the calendar soon became … …  synchronization …  the sun.

… order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning … the new year. But tampering continued … Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But … …  to synchronize the calendar … the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag … … 445 days.

Complete the sentences:

1. That greeting will be said and heard ……..
2. The celebration of the New year is ……..
3. The Babylonian New Year began ……..
4. The beginning of spring is ……….
5. Babylonian new year celebration lasted ………
6. The Romans continued to observe the New year ………
7. It again established ………

Match the words and their translations:

Couple        полумесяц

Observe          праздновать

Ancient            тянуть

Celebrate             пара

Visible             с другой стороны

Cresent               наблюдать

After all                  урожай

Rebirth            в конце концов

Crops                         видимый

Blossoming                      возрождение

on the other hand                       античный

purely                   цветение

significance                  произвольный

arbitrary                  видимый

last                          празднества

particular                 сравнение

festivities                 предыдущий

comparison               устанавливать

observe                значение

tampered                длиться

establish                искажать

previous            произвольный

drag                 значение

Name the words which you associate with these words.

     Answer the questions:

1. How long do people greet each other after New Year party?
2. What words do they use for it?
3. What is the oldest holyday?
4. When did the Babylonian New begin?
5. What is a logical time to start a new year?
6. How long did the Babylonian new year celebration last?
7.  Why did the calendar become out of synchronization with the sun?
8. Why did the Roman senate declare January 1 to be the beginning of the new year?
9. Who established the Julian Calendar?
10.  What did Caesar do to synchronize the calendar with the sun?

Ask 5 types of questions to these sentences:

The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year.

The Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon.

The Romans continued to observe the New year in late March

Using the text make up the dialogue:

1. Imagine that you are talking with your friend about the history of New Year.
2. Imagine that you are interviewing a historian about the history of New Year.

Write a letter to your pen friend about the history of New Year.

Imagine that you make a report (or tell your parents) about the history of New Year.