Share in Class: Learning New Year's Customs and Facts

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bonne annee(French)

Frohes neues Jahr(Germany)

Felice anno nuovo(Italian)

Gott nytt ar(Swedish)

Feliz ano nuevo(Spanish)

Shana tova(Hebrew)

Hauoli makahiki hou(Hawaiian)

Gelukkig nieuwjaar(Dutch)

Did you know that there are 24 different time zones? That means people around the world celebrate New Year’s Eve at different times. When the fireworks are going off in Australia, it’s still morning in New York!

There are  lots of different customs done by people to celebrate the New Year. There are also several different types of New Year’s celebrations.  Get your noise makers and let’s learn about how people  around the world celebrate the New Year!

Fun Facts about New Year’s Celebrations:
In Russia, divers place a New Year’s tree into Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest freshwater lake.

Did you know that in Denmark on New Year’s Eve, people like to throw old broken dishes at the front door of friends?

Did you know that eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight  is considered good luck in Spain?

Hogmanay is a custom celebrated in Scotland at New Year’s. The word means “last day of the year”. One of the activities is “first footing”, being the first person to visit a neighbor or friend in the new year. Usually, a gift is brought, too.

Webquest:

1. New Year’s has been celebrated for over 4000 years. It began with which ancient culture?_________________They celebrated the beginning of the new year with the first new moon , after the vernal equinox occurred. Their celebration lasted 11 days! In which month did New Year’s take place?_____________What important event always took placed during this time?_______________________Find the answers at this link:  http://www.history.com/topics/new-years

2. On the Jewish calendar, September welcomes the new year. What is the name for this religious celebration?_________________ What does this phrase mean?____________________ What is a shofar?______________________What are two things which  Jewish people often do at this time of year?____________________What is the name for the bread often eaten at this time of year and what is often spread on this bread?______________Find the answers at this link: http://www.factmonster.com/spot/rosh-hashanah.html

3. The celebrating of the new year on January 1st began with which ancient culture?__________________For whom is the month of January named?__________________Why did he have two faces?_________________________For a time, ___________was used as the beginning of the year as was ____________In which year, did Pope Gregory XIII return the calendar to January 1, as New Year’s Day?_________________Find the answers at this link:  http://www.history.com/topics/new-years

Learn more about the history of New Year's with my complete resource. There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills.Included are also other holiday New Year's celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah. The resources also mentions how April Fool's Day originated over when to celebrate New Year's! Access the lesson here. 

Happy New Year!

Gail

gailhennessey.com