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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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) |
You can add the following words (They are all feminine):
Modern Greek | English |
---|---|
ελπίδα | hope |
αισιοδοξία | optimism |
ειρήνη | peace |
καλοσύνη | kindness |
δημιουργικότητα | creativity |
Videos[edit | edit source]
How to Say "Happy New Year" in Greek[edit | edit source]
How to Celebrate New Year in Greece[edit | edit source]
Author[edit | edit source]
- Ευγενική χορηγία που στοχεύει να βοηθήσει μαθητές ή μη, απανταχού της Γης, που επιδίδονται στην εκμάθηση της ελληνικής γλώσσας!
- Contribution bénévole visant à aider les personnes, partout dans le monde, qui sont engagées dans l'apprentissage de la langue grecque !
- Voluntary contribution aimed at helping people, all over the world, who are committed to learning the Greek language!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- The 100 most common expressions in Greek
- Count to 10
- Days of the Week
- Vocabulary: School
- Time
- Hunger
- House
- Sports
- Transportation
- Colors