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It’s "As It Is", New Year’s Eve edition from VOA Learning English, I’m Steve Ember.
edition: edición, lanzamiento de boletín;
Now, depending on where in the world you are and when you’re joining us, the start of the New Year is just hours, or maybe minutes, or even seconds away.
depending on: dependiendo de (al verbo DEPEND le sigue siempre la preposición ON; where in the world: que lugar del mundo; joining us: visitándonos; even seconds away: incluso a segundos de distancia;
As far back in history as we can tell, people have celebrated the start of a new year. The people of ancient Egypt began their new year in summer. That is when the Nile River flooded its banks, bringing water and fertility to the land.
as far back in history: tan atrás en la historia; as we can tell: como podamos decir; the start: el comienzo; ancient Egypt: antiguo Egipto; began: comenzaba; the Nile River: el río Nilo; flooded its banks: inundaba sus orillas; bringing water and fertility: aportando agua y fertilidad; land: tierra;
Today, most people celebrate New Year’s Day on January first. People observe the New Year’s holiday in many different ways, usually starting with New Year’s Eve.
most: la mayoría de;
The ancient Babylonians celebrated the New Year by forcing their king to give up his crown and royal clothing. They made him get down on his knees and admit all the mistakes he had made during the past year.
ancient Babylonians: antiguos Babilonios; by forcing their king; obligando a su rey; to give up his crown: a renunciar a su corona; royal clothing: vestuario real; they made him get down on his knees: lo hacían arrodillar; admit all the mistakes: admitir todos los errores; he had made: que había cometido;
About the idea of admitting mistakes and finishing the business of the old year is found in many cultures at New Year’s.
about the idea of admitting mistakes: la idea de admitir errores; is found in many cultures: se encuentra en muchas culturas
So is the idea of making New Year’s resolutions. A resolution is a promise to change or do something different in the coming year.
so is the idea of making: así es la idea de realizar; a promise: una promesa; in the coming year: en el año próximo;
Making New Year’s resolutions is a common American tradition. Breaking them is, too!
common tradition: tradición común o habitual; breaking them is too: romper (las promesas) lo es también;
Today, popular resolutions might include the promise to lose weight, stop smoking, or be more productive at work.
might include: podrían incluir; to lose weight: bajar de peso, adelgazar; stop smoking: dejar de fumar; be more productive: ser más productivo/a;
Some members of our Learning English group have offered New Year’s resolutions of their own, and told me I could share them. So here goes.
members: miembros, integrantes; of their own: propios; I could share them: yo podía compartirlas; so here goes: así que aquí van;
One of our people promised to stop telling stories about others. That practice is known as gossip. Another staff member promised to spend more time with his family. Our boss resolved to be “the best Dad ever”.
to stop telling stories: dejar de comentar chismes; about others: sobre otras personas; is known as gossip: se conoce como chisme; our boss: nuestro jefe;
And one above said about resolutions, “Oh, I gave that up years ago”.
I gave that up years ago: yo abandoné eso hace años;
Here’s one we’ve all at least thought about:
at least thought about: al menos hemos pensado;
“I resolve to win the lottery”. Another colleague wants to stop smoking. Every year, she says, she makes that resolution…and every year it hasn’t happened.
I resolve to win the lottery: me propongo ganar la lotería; another colleague: otra coolega; every year it hasn't happened: cada año que termina ello no sucede;
Another one of our group is resolving to lose some weight. Those resolutions usually have to wait until after the holiday season. Lots of festive meals, you know.
lots of festive meals: muchas comidas festivas;
Here’s one I like: My resolution is to stop making resolutions, because I never keep them. For example, this colleague told me, I have not given up eating too many sweets, resolved on many a January first. She says, she will still work for chocolates! That’s good to know.
I never keep them: nunca los cumplo; she will stil work for chocolates: ella seguirá trabajando para los chocolates;
One person – that would be me - decided to get a new cat to replace a much loved one that had recently died. Now, that resolution was made at the end of 2002. It took me almost two years to keep it, but in October of 2004, at an animal shelter in Virginia, I was “adopted” by a very handsome, and very talkative, gray and white cat. Mewer and I have been together ever since. He even helped me out on a recent “As It Is” program, all about cats. Perhaps you heard him? He’s the one that purrs like a diesel locomotive.
that would be me: ese sería yo; a much loved one: uno muy querido; had recently died: había muerto hacía poco; almost two years to keep it: casi dos años para cumplirlo; animal shelter: refugio de animales; handsome and talkative: guapo y conversador; ever since: desde entonces; helped me out: me dio una mano, me ayudó; purrs like a diesel locomotive: ronronea como una locomotora diesel;
Other people use New Year’s resolutions to make changes in how they live their lives. One such resolution might be to “stop and smell the roses”. That’s always a pleasant thing to do, but what the expression means is take time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures…instead of always being too busy and in a hurry.
to stop and smell the roses: parar un poco y oler las rosas (darse tiempo para disfrutar placeres simples de la vida); too busy and in a hurry: demasiado ocupado y apurado;
Another resolution might be “don’t sweat the small stuff”. This means not to worry or get angry about unimportant things. Another resolution might be to be happy now and to forget about bad things that happened in the past. Or, to be thankful for the most important things in life, like family and friends.
don't sweat the small stuff: no preocuparse o enfadarse por cosas sin importancia;
Here’s a little musical resolution I made – to wrap up today’s program with a musical question.
to wrap up today's program: para culminar el programa de hoy;
Maybe it’s much too early in the game
Quizás sea demasiado pronto en esta partida
Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same
Pero me pareció que podría preguntártelo
What’re you doing New Year’s … New Year’s Eve?
¿Qué piensas hacer para Fin de Año?
That’s Margaret Whiting’s classic recording of the Frank Loesser tune “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?”.
classic recording: grabación clásica; tune: melodía;
“As It Is” is a production of VOA Learning English. Steve Ember here, and no matter what you’re doing New Year’s Eve our resolution is to wish you a happy, healthy and productive New Year!
no matter what you're doing: sin importar lo que hagas; happy, healthy and productive: feliz, saludable y productivo.
Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
Quizás esté loco para imaginar
I’d ever be the one you chose
Que yo sería el único elegido
Out of a thousand invitations you’ll receive…
De las miles de invitaciones que recibirás... |
