Celebrating the New Year

Celebrating the start of a new year is a tradition that has endured for thousands of years. Parties, fireworks displays, and large public gatherings are held worldwide, although the date of the celebration varies in some countries. Different countries also have unique customs and special foods to mark the beginning of the year. In the US, millions of people look forward to watching the ball drop at midnight in Times Square while counting down to the start of a new year. “Auld Lang Syne” is a traditional song played at midnight in English-speaking countries. 

Many families also create their own traditions to celebrate the holiday. Starting a family tradition is a way to make the day more meaningful and memorable for kids. Whether you are going out on New Year's eve or staying home, try to make time to do something special to mark the occasion and create lasting memories with the whole family.

Here are some ideas for celebrating New Year’s with the family:

- Make party crafts. Making crafts is a fun way to get kids excited for the celebration. Kids can make party hats, confetti, and noisemakers using a few craft supplies and simple items around the house. Use lightweight cardboard or construction paper for the hats. Form a cone shape with the cardboard and staple or glue it into place. Kids can decorate the hats with markers or paint and glitter. Use tissue paper and scissors to make confetti. Decorate empty water bottles or other containers and fill them with coins or marbles to make noisemakers. 

- Prepare some good luck foods. It is believed that certain foods bring good luck on New Year’s, such as black-eyed peas and lentils. Pork and fish are thought to attract opportunities and wealth. Making good luck foods from around the world is also a fun way to teach kids about the holiday traditions of other cultures. Spain and Latin America have a tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight for good luck. Dumplings, noodles, and rice cakes are traditional foods for good fortune in Asia. Europeans eat cabbage or other greens to ensure prosperity. 

- Make New Year’s resolutions together as a family. Making resolutions is a hallmark of the holiday that has endured since ancient times. Encourage kids to think about what they want to improve on in the new year. Resolutions can also include goals and aspirations, such as learning a new skill or trying out for a sports team.

- Have a countdown party. A New Year’s countdown party with kids can be earlier in the evening if they can not stay awake until midnight. Have everyone get dressed up in party clothes and take photos together. Play charades and board games or have a karaoke dance party to get everyone in a festive mood to ring in the year before bedtime. Kids can have a toast with ginger ale or sparkling cider. 

- Create a time capsule or memory box. This is a creative family project that kids enjoy on New Year’s Day. Ask each child to think about their happiest memories from the past year. Kids can write or draw something to put in the box that represents their favorite memories or accomplishments of the year. The box can also include "best of the year" lists, with each person’s favorite song, movie, and book of the year. Add a family photo to the time capsule as well. Put the box away and do not open it until next year!