Learn English with an ESL Lesson from History

• ☐ ☐ ☐ massive [adj] - very large
• ☐ ☐ ☐ Babylonian [adj] - relating to ancient Babylon
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a festival [n] - a special event or celebration
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an equinox [n] - the time when day and night are equal in length (March 20–21, September 22–23)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ be synced to [exp] - be matched to, be in the same rhythm as
• ☐ ☐ ☐ the Middle Ages [n] - Europe from about 500 to 1500
• ☐ ☐ ☐ do away with [phv] - stop using, get rid of
• ☐ ☐ ☐ pagan [adj] - relating to religions that existed before Christianity
• ☐ ☐ ☐ roots [n] - origins, beginnings
• ☐ ☐ ☐ medieval Europe [n] - Europe during the Middle Ages
• ☐ ☐ ☐ overhaul [v] - completely change
• ☐ ☐ ☐ solar [adj] - relating to the sun
• ☐ ☐ ☐ lunar [adj] - relating to the moon
• ☐ ☐ ☐ Islamic [adj] - relating to Islam or Muslims
• ☐ ☐ ☐ lead up to [phv] - happen just before
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a dumpling [n] - a small piece of dough, often filled with food [image]
• ☐ ☐ ☐ auspicious [adj] - suggesting good luck or success
• ☐ ☐ ☐ buckwheat [n] - a grain used to make noodles or flour
• ☐ ☐ ☐ mesmerizing [adj] - very interesting, very beautiful
• ☐ ☐ ☐ kaleidoscopic [adj] - with many bright colors and changing patterns
• ☐ ☐ ☐ vivid [adj] - very bright, clear, or strong
• ☐ ☐ ☐ resolutions [n] - promises people make to themselves, especially at the new year

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,  [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

---

1. The Babylonian festival of Akitu was celebrated around _______.
   the spring equinox
   the fall equinox
   the summer solstice
   the winter solstice
   
   
2. Julius Caesar moved New Year’s Day from _______.
   January 1st to March 1st
   March 1st to January 1st
   
   
3. During the Middle Ages, New Year’s _______ celebrated on January 1st across Europe.
   was
   wasn't
   
   
4. The Gregorian calendar was introduced in _______.
   the 15th century
   the 16th century
   the 17th century
   the 18th century
   
   
5. The Gregorian calendar is a _______ calendar.
   lunar
   solar
   
   
6. The Jewish and the Islamic New Year's are both celebrated in _______.
   the winter
   the summer
   the spring
   the fall
   
   
7. Chinese New Year usually lasts for about _______
   three days
   two weeks
   a month
   
   
8. Eating twelve grapes at midnight is a New Year’s tradition in _______.
   Greece
   Spain
   China
   
   
9. In Japan, eating _______ on New Year's symbolizes long life.
   noodles
   coins
   cake
   fish
   
   
10. The New Year’s ball drop in Times Square began in the early _______.
    21st century
    20th century
    19th century
    18th century
    
    

---

Directions: What expressions from the video have the same meaning as the highlighted expressions in the sentences below?

Instrucciones: ¿Qué expresiones del video tienen el mismo significado que las expresiones destacadas en las oraciones siguientes?

Instruções: Quais expressões do vídeo têm o mesmo significado que as expressões destacadas nas frases abaixo?

지시 사항: 아래 문장에서 강조된 표현과 같은 의미를 가진 표현을 영상에서 찾아보세요.

1. The original New Year's celebration, the [ very big ] Babylonian religious festival of Akitu, was held every year around the spring [ seasonal turning point ].

   [ massive ] [ equinox ]

   Show Hide
   
   
2. Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar that [ matched ] the sun instead of the moon.

   [ was synced to ]

   Show Hide
   
   
3. In the Middle Ages, the Christian church [ got rid of ] many of the ancient Roman festivals because of their [ pre-Christian ] roots.

   [ did away with ] [ pagan ]

   Show Hide
   
   
4. Pope Gregory the XIII [ completely changed ] the calendar system again.

   [ overhauled ]

   Show Hide
   
   
5. Some countries and cultures follow a [ moon ], not [ sun ] calendar.

   [ lunar ] [ solar ]

   Show Hide
   
   
6. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes in the seconds [ right before ] midnight.

   [ leading up to ]

   Show Hide
   
   
7. In China, a dumpling represents hope for an [ favorable, lucky, promising ] new year.

   [ auspicious ]

   Show Hide
   
   
8. Hundreds of thousands of people enjoyed the [ very interesting ] kaleidoscopic effect with nearly 16 million vivid colors and billions of patterns.

   [ mesmerizing ]

   Show Hide
   
   

Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order.
( ) = optional   [ ] = necessary

Instrucciones: Escriba oraciones sobre el videoclip usando las palabras dadas. Puede cambiar la forma de la palabra o agregar palabras, pero no puede cambiar el orden de las palabras.

Instruções:: Escreva orações sobre o videoclipe usando as palavras-chave. Você pode alterar a forma da palavra ou adicionar palavras, mas não pode alterar a ordem das palavras.

지시 : 주어진 단어를 사용하여 비디오 클립에 대한 문장을 씁니다. 어형을 변경하거나 단어를 추가할 수 있지만 어순은 변경할 수 없습니다.

many / people / celebrate / new / year / day / January / 1st / but / this / date / not / always / use

Many people celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st, but this date was not always used.

Many people celebrate New Year’s Day on January 1st, but this date hasn't always been used.

earliest / new / year / celebration / begin / ancient / Babylon / with / Akitu / festival / around / spring / equinox

The earliest New Year celebrations began in ancient Babylon with the Akitu festival around the spring equinox.

Julius / Caesar / later / introduce / solar / calendar / and / official / move / new / year / day / January / 1st

Julius Caesar later introduced a solar calendar and officially moved New Year’s Day to January 1st.

during / middle / age / new / year / celebrate / different / date / across / Europe

During the Middle Ages, New Year’s was celebrated on different dates across Europe.

1582 / Pope / Gregory XIII / introduce / Gregorian / calendar / restore / January / 1st / as / new / year / day

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, restoring January 1st as New Year’s Day.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar, which restored January 1st as New Year’s Day.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar and restored January 1st as New Year’s Day.

tradition / vary / wide / and / include / variety / symbol / meal / culture / custom

Traditions vary widely and include a variety of symbolic meals and cultural customs.

in / Spain / people / eat / twelve / grape / midnight / one / each / month / coming / year

In Spain, people eat twelve grapes at midnight, one for each month of the coming year.

in / Greece / people / eat / ring / shape / cake / with / coin / baked / inside

In Greece, people eat ring-shaped cakes with coins (that are) baked inside.

in / China / dumpling / be / eat / bring / good / luck

In China, dumplings are eaten (in order) to bring good luck.

in / Japan / people / eat / long / buckwheat / noodle / symbolize / long / health / life

In Japan, people eat long buckwheat noodles (in order) to symbolize a long (and) healthy life.

from / ancient / festival / modern / celebration / like / times / square / ball / drop / new year / have / long / diverse / history

From ancient festivals to modern celebrations like the Times Square ball drop, New Year’s has a long (and) diverse history.

1. What information in this video did you already know? What new things did you learn?
2. Which New Year's tradition mentioned in the script do you find the most interesting or unusual?
3. How do people usually celebrate New Year’s in your country or culture?
4. Do you prefer New Year celebrations that focus on food, family, or large public events? Why?
5. Do you usually make New Year’s resolutions, or do you think they are unnecessary?
6. If so, what is your New Year’s resolution this year? What was it last year?