Week 69, Lesson 137, Thursday
New Year and Christmas
In Russia, New Year is the great family night: a tree, Дед Мороз and the Snow Maiden, a long dinner, and the Kremlin chimes at midnight. Christmas follows on 7 January.
1Recap 5 minutes
Three questions from Month 17, before anything new.
2Goal 1 minute
I can describe how New Year and Christmas are celebrated in Russia, and congratulate people.
3The lesson 20 minutes
In this lesson
- The New Year night
- Congratulating
The New Year night
The symbols of a Russian New Year.
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Вечером вся семья собирается за столом. | In the evening the whole family gathers at the table. |
| В полночь бьют куранты, и все загадывают желание. | At midnight the chimes strike and everyone makes a wish. |
| Дед Мороз и Снегурочка приносят подарки. | Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden bring presents. |
Congratulating
| Russian | Meaning |
|---|---|
| С Новым годом! | Happy New Year! |
| С Рождеством! | Merry Christmas! |
| Поздравляю вас с праздником! | Happy holiday to you! |
С + the instrumental for every greeting. Orthodox Christmas is on 7 January.
4Listen and say 5 minutes
Sound of the lesson: кура́нты
кура́нты: ku-RAN-ty, stress in the middle.
- кура́нты [ku-RAN-ty] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
- Снегу́рочка [sni-GU-rach-ka] Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)
5Phrases and words 5 minutes
Phrases to learn whole
Learn each one as a single unit, the way you would learn a word. They come back in your Daily 10.
- С Но́вым го́дом!Happy New Year!
- С Рождество́м!Merry Christmas!
- Поздравля́ю вас с пра́здником!Happy holiday to you!
Words to read aloud
Read each one aloud, then open it to check.
Но́вый год
New Year
ёлка
New Year tree
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)Дед Моро́з, Снегу́рочка
Grandfather Frost, the Snow Maiden
кура́нты
the Kremlin chimes
Hear it on Forvo (opens in a new tab)пода́рок, пода́рки
present, presents
Рождество́
зага́дывать жела́ние
to make a wish
6Class exercises 15 minutes
Checked instantly. Get one wrong and you can try it again.
Role-play
Take one card each. Swap roles for a second round.
You
- Describe your family's New Year night.
Ника
- Tell you about a Russian New Year, and ask what you'd wish for.
7Your turn 5 minutes
Congratulate someone on New Year and describe the night in one sentence.
See a model answer
С Новым годом! В полночь мы слушаем куранты и загадываем желание.
Saved as you type. It goes to Ника together with Homework 137.
8Mini questionnaire required, 80% to pass
9Feedback 5 minutes
10Check your goal 1 minute
I can describe how New Year and Christmas are celebrated in Russia, and congratulate people.
Can you do this now? Be honest: the answer decides your next step.
11Homework
Homework 137 on Saturday: New Year.
I can describe how New Year and Christmas are celebrated in Russia, and congratulate people.