Language/Modern-greek-1453/Vocabulary/Happy-New-Year

In this post, you will find common expressions to use to wish “Happy New Year” to your friends & family.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson:City, Parts of the Body, Hobbies & Hunger.

Ancient Greek: Cultural Note

In ancient Greece the New Year was not celebrated, since for that time the beginning of each month, called "noumenia- Νουμηνία", was more important. It was not until ancient Roman times,  that New Year festivities began to become extremely popular. A celebration known as "Saturnalia", a time of reveling, drinking bouts, orgies and human sacrifice in honor of the god Saturn, was instituted as the festival of January 1st by Julius Caesar. The Roman emperor did this in 46 B.C. upon his epochal decision to adopt the Julian calendar. The popularity of the orgiastic celebration of Saturnalia spread to all corners of the Roman Empire and continued to integrate,  including those of ancient Greece.

How to wish "Happy New Year" in Modern Greek

In oral language, when someone wishes us “'''Καλή χρονιά'''” (Happy new year) we answer by “Επίσης” (same to you).

Modern Greek	English
Καλή Χρονιά!	Happy New Year!
ευτυχισμένο το 2023	happy 2023
εύχομαι	to wish
σου εύχομαι	I wish you (informal)
σας εύχομαι	I wish you (formal)
σε εσένα και την οικογένειά σου	to you and your family (informal)
σε εσάς και την οικογένειά σας	to you and your family (formal)
σου στέλνω τις καλύτερες ευχές μου για τη νέα χρονιά	I am sending you my best wishes for the new year.
μία χρονιά γεμάτη υγεία, χαρά και αγάπη	a year full of healthy, joy and love
πολλές ευχές για το νέο έτος	many wishes for the new year (έτος is rather formal)
η νέα χρονιά να σου / σας φέρει ευτυχία	(may) the new year bring you happiness
να είσαι πάντα καλά	be always well (informal)
να είστε πάντα καλά	be always well (formal)

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You can add the following words (They are all feminine):

Modern Greek	English
ελπίδα	hope
αισιοδοξία	optimism
ειρήνη	peace
καλοσύνη	kindness
δημιουργικότητα	creativity

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