New Year

The New Year begins at midnight when 31st December ends and 1st
January begins. It is a time when people say goodbye to the past year
and welcome in the new year.
The Gregorian Calendar
Pope Gregory XIII changed the dates
The first country to
of the calendar so that Easter could
welcome in the new year
be celebrated at the time it used to be
is Kiribati, which is in the
celebrated years before.
Pacific Ocean.
Although New Year begins on 1st January
in the UK, other countries and religions
celebrate the start of the New Year on
different days of the year.
New Year in Mexico
Mexicans celebrate the New Year by eating
grapes at the chimes of midnight, and making a
wish with each chime. Homes are decorated red,
yellow, green and white.
Mexican sweetbread is baked with a charm or
a coin inside. The person who gets the coin or
charm is said to be blessed with good luck.
Another tradition is to write down all the bad
or unhappy things that happened to you during
the year, and then throw the list into the fire.
This shows that you are getting rid of all negative
things that happened.
New Year in Europe
In Europe, most people celebrate New Year with
friends and family, throwing parties or going
to pubs and bars. Often fireworks, games and a
special meal are part of the celebrations too.

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New Year in Scotland
In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay. People visit one another’s
houses and take gifts, usually a coin, bread, salt, coal and whisky. These
represent wealth, food, flavour, warmth and good cheer.
A Time to Reflect
New Year is a time to look back on the past year and look forward to the
new one. It is a time when people make New Year Resolutions. These are
like promises. Adults might decide to change their jobs or move house,
and children might plan to do their homework, help more around the
house or join a club.

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 New Year
Questions
1. What are people saying goodbye to at the start of the New Year?

2. Who changed the dates of the calendar?

3. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

4. Why is a coin or charm baked inside Mexican sweetbread? Tick one.

to bring bad luck

to ward off evil spirits
to bring good luck
as a decoration

5. Which country calls New Year ‘Hogmanay’? Tick one.

Brazil
Scotland
Mexico
England

6. Which two of these may someone bring to a friend’s house for Hogmanay? Tick two.

sweets
bread
coal
flower
7. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?





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 New Year

Answers
1. What are people saying goodbye to at the start of the New Year?

People are saying goodbye to the past year at the start of a New Year.

2. Who changed the dates of the calendar?

Pope Gregory XIII

3. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

4. Why is a coin or charm baked inside Mexican sweetbread? Tick one.

to bring bad luck

to ward off evil spirits
to bring good luck
as a decoration

5. Which country calls New Year ‘Hogmanay’? Tick one.

Brazil
Scotland
Mexico
England

6. Which two of these may someone bring to a friend’s house for Hogmanay? Tick two.

sweets
bread
coal
flower
7. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?

Pupil’s own response, such as: I think people choose to make New Year’s
Resolutions because it helps them to give up something that may be difficult to
stop and focus on making it through a year. It also shows that the person is making
changes for the year ahead which will have a positive effect on their life.
 New Year
The New Year begins at midnight when 31st December ends and 1st January
begins. It is often seen as an important time where people say goodbye
to the past year and welcome in the
new year.
But how did this changing of the year Because of the time
come about and how is it celebrated? differences around the world,
the first country to welcome
The Gregorian Calendar in the new year is Kiribati.
The calendar was changed in October It is in the Line
1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, which Islands in the
is why it is called the Gregorian Pacific Ocean.
Calendar. The Pope changed the dates
of the calendar so that Easter could
be celebrated at the time of year it used to be celebrated by the early
Church years before.
1st January is also known as the day to commemorate the saints. Other
countries and religions celebrate the start of the New Year on different
days of the year.
New Year’s Eve is also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day.
New Year in Mexico
Mexicans celebrate the New Year by eating a grape at the chimes of
midnight, whilst making a wish with each chime. Homes are decorated
red, yellow, green and white representing the hopes they have for the
coming year.
Mexican sweetbread is baked with a charm or a coin inside. The person
who gets the coin or charm is said to be
blessed with good luck.
Another tradition is to write down all the
bad or unhappy things that happened to you
during the year, and then throw the list into
the fire. This symbolises getting rid of all
negative energy.

Page 1 of 4
 New Year in Europe
In Europe, most people celebrate
In Brazil, New Year marks the New Year with friends and family,
beginning of the summer holidays. throwing parties or going to pubs
There are live concerts, a spectacular and bars. Often fireworks, games
fireworks display and millions of and a special meal are part of the
revellers on Rio de Janeiro’s beach, celebrations too.
Copacabana.
New Year in Scotland
In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is
called Hogmanay. People visit one
another’s houses and take some unusual gifts, traditionally a coin, bread,
salt, coal and whisky. These represent wealth, food, flavour, warmth and
good cheer.
In the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, a huge celebration takes place along
Princes Street. The cannon is fired at Edinburgh Castle at midnight, then
there is a large fireworks display.
A Time to Reflect
New Year is a time to look back on the
past year and look forward to the new
one. It is a time when people make New
Year Resolutions. These give people the
chance to try to make changes in their
lives. Adults might decide to change
their jobs or move house, and children
might plan to do their homework, help
more around the house or join a club.

Page 2 of 4
 New Year
Questions
1. Why is the calendar known as the Gregorian calendar?

2. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

3. Which of these are other names for New Year’s Eve? Tick two.

All Saint’s Day

Old Year’s Day
Hogmanay
Copacabana
4. Explain one of the traditions that Mexicans may carry out at New Year and give the reason.





5. Fill in the missing words.

In the Scottish capital, , a huge celebration takes place along

Street. The is fired at Edinburgh Castle at
, then there is a large display.

6. Match the country to the New Year celebration.

Houses are decorated red, yellow,

Brazil
green and white.

Millions of revellers go to the

Scotland
beach.

People visit other people’s houses

Mexico
with gifts, such as a coin, bread,
salt, coal and whisky.

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7. Which of these is closest in meaning to the word ‘revellers’? Tick one.

miserable people
party-goers
to unravel
to loosen
8. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?





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 New Year

Answers
1. Why is the calendar known as the Gregorian calendar?

It is named after its inventor, Pope Gregory XIII.

2. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

3. Which of these are other names for New Year’s Eve? Tick two.

All Saint’s Day

Old Year’s Day
Hogmanay
Copacabana
4. Explain one of the traditions that Mexicans may carry out at New Year and give the reason.

Accept any of the following:

• eating grapes at midnight and making wishes – to bring in good luck in the next year

• decorating their homes to represent the hopes they have for the next year

• bake bread with a charm or coin inside to bless the recipient with luck

• write a list of the bad and unhappy things that happened in the past year
and burn it in a fire to symbolise getting rid of the negative energy.

5. Fill in the missing words.

In the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, a huge celebration takes place along Princes Street. The
cannon is fired at Edinburgh Castle at midnight, then there is a large firework display.

Page 1 of 2
 New Year

6. Match the country to the New Year celebration.

Houses are decorated red, yellow,

Brazil
green and white.

Millions of revellers go to the

Scotland
beach.

People visit other people’s houses

Mexico
with gifts, such as a coin, bread,
salt, coal and whisky.

7. Which of these is closest in meaning to the word ‘revellers’? Tick one.

miserable people
party-goers
to unravel
to loosen

8. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?

Pupil’s own response, such as: I think people choose to make New Year’s
Resolutions because it helps them to give up something that may be difficult to
stop and focus on making it through a year. It also shows that the person is making
changes for the year ahead which will have a positive effect on their life.

Page 2 of 2
 New Year
The New Year begins at midnight when 31st December ends and 1st
January begins. It is often seen as a momentous occasion where people
say goodbye to the past year and
welcome in the new year.
But how did this changing of the year Due to the time differences
come about and how is it celebrated? around the world, the first
country to welcome in the
The Gregorian Calendar New Year is Kiribati, which
The calendar was changed in October is located
1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, hence in the Line
the name. Before this calendar was Islands in the
introduced, the Julian Calendar was Pacific Ocean.
used. The Pope made these changes
so that Easter could be celebrated at
the time of year it used to be celebrated by the early Church years before.
1st January is recognised as the day to commemorate the saints. Other
countries and religions celebrate the start of the New Year on different
days of the year.
New Year’s Eve is also known as Old Year’s Day or Saint Sylvester’s Day.
New Year in Mexico
Mexicans celebrate the New Year by eating a grape with each of the 12
chimes of midnight, whilst making a wish with each chime. Their homes
are decorated red, yellow, green and white to symbolise hopes for the
coming year.
Mexican sweetbread is baked with a charm or a coin inside. The recipient
of the coin or charm is said to be blessed
with good luck.
Another tradition is to write down all the
bad or unhappy things that happened to
you during the year, and then throw the list
into the fire. This symbolises the removal of
all negative energy.

Page 1 of 4
New Year in the United States
In the USA, it has become a tradition
to watch the famous New Year Ball
Drop in Times Square, New York.
This tradition has been held since
1907 and is now replicated in other
countries.
Central Park, also in New York, hosts
a Midnight Run, which ends with a huge firework display.
New Year in Europe
In Europe, most people celebrate New Year with friends and family,
throwing parties or going to pubs and bars. Often fireworks, games and a
special meal are part of the celebrations too.
New Year in Scotland
In Scotland, New Year’s Eve is called Hogmanay. People visit one another’s
houses and take gifts, traditionally
a coin, bread, salt, coal and whisky.
In Brazil, New Year marks These represent prosperity, food,
the beginning of the summer flavour, warmth and good cheer. In
holidays. There are live the Scottish capital, Edinburgh, the
concerts, a spectacular celebration is focused on a major street
fireworks display and party along Princes Street. The cannon
millions of revellers on Rio de is fired at Edinburgh Castle at the
Janeiro’s beach, Copacabana. stroke of midnight, followed by a large
fireworks display.
A Time to Reflect
New Year is seen as a time to reflect on the past year
and look forward to the new one. It is often a time
when people make New Year Resolutions, which
give people the chance to resolve to make changes
in their lives. Adults might decide to change their
jobs or move house, and children might resolve to
do their homework, help more around the house
or join a club.

Page 2 of 4
 New Year

Questions
1. Why is the calendar known as the Gregorian calendar?

2. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

3. Give another name that is used for New Year’s Eve.

4. Explain one of the traditions that Mexicans may carry out at New Year and give the reason.





5. ‘The recipient of the coin or charm is said to be blessed with good luck.’
What does the word ‘recipient’ mean in this sentence?

6. Match the country to the New Year celebration.

Sweetbread is baked with a coin or

Brazil
charm inside.

Millions of revellers go to the

Scotland
beach.

People visit other people’s houses

Mexico
with gifts, such as a coin, bread,
salt, coal and whisky.

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 New Year

7. Why do you think fireworks have become popular to use in New Year’s celebrations?





8. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?





Page 4 of 4
 New Year

Answers
1. Why is the calendar known as the Gregorian calendar?

It is named after its inventor, Pope Gregory XIII.

2. Which country welcomes the New Year first? Tick one.

Brazil
Kiribati
The United States of America
Mexico

3. Give another name that is used for New Year’s Eve.

Accept ‘Old Year’s Day’, ‘Saint Sylvester’s Day’ or ‘Hogmanay’.

4. Explain one of the traditions that Mexicans may carry out at New Year and give the reason.

Accept answers giving reference to one of the following traditions and explaining its meaning:

• Decorating houses in red, yellow, white and green

to symbolise hopes for the new year.

• Eating a grape for each of the 12 chimes of midnight and making a wish each time.

• Baking sweetbread with a hidden coin or charm inside

to bless the recipient with good luck.

• Write down all the bad or unhappy things that have happened in the past year and
burn the list, symbolising the removal of negative energy for the coming year.

5. ‘The recipient of the coin or charm is said to be blessed with good luck.’
What does the word ‘recipient’ mean in this sentence?

The word ‘recipient’ means the person receiving the coin or charm.

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 New Year

6. Match the country to the New Year celebration.

Sweetbread is baked with a coin or

Brazil
charm inside.

Millions of revellers go to the

Scotland
beach.

People visit other people’s houses

Mexico
with gifts, such as a coin, bread,
salt, coal and whisky.
7. Why do you think fireworks have become popular to use in New Year’s celebrations?

Pupil’s own responses, such as: I think fireworks have become popular to use because
they are bright and colourful and make people happy. This then starts the new year off
with happy feelings and celebrates all the hopes people have at the start of a new year.

8. Why do you think people choose to make New Year’s Resolutions?

Pupil’s own response, such as: I think people choose to make New Year’s
Resolutions because it helps them to give up something that may be difficult to
stop and focus on making it through a year. It also shows that the person is making
changes for the year ahead which will have a positive effect on their life.

Page 2 of 2