New Year Celebrations in Ireland

New Year's Eve (Irish: Oíche Chinn Bliana) is the last day of the year in Ireland. It is not a public
holiday so most businesses are open on that day.
Background
Winter celebrations have been held in Ireland for thousands of years. These marked the end of the
fall harvest season and the darkest part of the year. People celebrated by holding feasts, social
events and lighting fires to bring light into the dark. These customs are still seen in modern New
Year's Eve celebrations in Ireland.
What Do People Do Nowadays?
Many people go to dinners, parties or galas in private homes, pubs or hotels in the late afternoon or
early evening. Many of these events feature some kind of countdown to midnight and the New Year.
At the stroke of midnight, there may be fireworks, short parades or performances by traditional
musicians. Many parties then continue into the early hours of January 1.
Although people generally have to work on New Year's Eve, many take some of their annual leave on
this day and the days surrounding it. Hence, it is a popular period to visit relatives and take a short
vacation in Ireland or abroad.
According to old tradition, people in the past cleaned their homes, put fresh sheets on their beds
and stocked up on food and other household supplies in the last days of December. They hoped that
this will give them a fresh and prosperous start to the New Year.

Are these sentences True or False?

1. On 31st of December all shops are closed in Ireland. _____

2. In the past people celebrated the last day of the year by lighting fires. _____
3. Many people in Ireland welcome the New Year at a party. _____
4. All New Year’s Eve parties must end early. _____
5. According to old tradition a clean house gives you a fresh start in new year. _____

What do you think Irish people do on New Year’s Day? Tick the options which you think are
correct.

__ Go shopping
__ Clean their homes
__ Swim in the sea
__ Eat stuffed turkey
__ Go for a walk in the hills or along a beach
__ Go to work
__ Attend New Year’s parades
__ Meet their family and friends
__ Cook a 5-course meal
__ Bake a New Year’s pudding

Read the text on the next page and check if you were right.

Adapted from: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/ireland/new-year-day

New Year's Day (Irish: Lá Caille or Lá Bliana Nua) is the first day of the year. It is a day off for the
general population, and schools and most businesses are closed.
What Do People Do on New Year’s Day?
Many people spend New Year's Day quietly with family members and close friends. This is
particularly true if they attended New Year's Eve celebrations that lasted into the early hours of
January 1. Others go walking in the hills or along beaches to mark the start of the New Year. New
Year's dips are organized in many coastal towns. These are short swims in the cold waters of the Irish
Sea or Atlantic Ocean.
New Year's Day parades are held in some villages, towns and cities. The largest parade is held in
Dublin. Marching bands, musicians and other groups walk through the city's streets. The atmosphere
is friendly and welcoming. Parades in smaller towns and villages may concentrate on local events,
anniversaries in the coming year, or be more religious or spiritual.

Answer these questions:

1. What is New Year’s Day in Irish?

_____________________________________________________________________

2. What do most people do on New Year’s Day?

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Where is the largest New Year’s Day parade held?

_____________________________________________________________________

4. Who takes part in the parades?

______________________________________________________________________

5. What is the atmosphere at the parades?

______________________________________________________________________

Find these words and phrases in the texts and match them with their definitions:

Public holiday Situated at the seaside

Harvest season A social occasion with special entertainment

Gala A date marking an important event

Annual leave A day off, day during which people do not work

Coastal The time when people gather crops from fields

Anniversary A period of paid time off work

Adapted from: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/ireland/new-year-day