Learn about New Year's Eve Traditions Around the World

12/12/2023

Learn about New Year's Eve Traditions Around the World

As the year comes to a close, take time to embark on a journey around the world to celebrate New Year's Eve with your preschoolers! New Years Eve offers a wonderful opportunity to introduce early learners to different cultures and traditions. In this blog post, we'll explore how you can make learning about New Year's celebrations globally both educational and fun for your curious preschoolers.

New Year's Celebrations

People around the world have a lot of different ways of ringing in the new year! We're highlighting a plethora of different celebrations that people partake in all around the world. Head to our New Year's Theme Planning page for more ideas and activities.

Countdown to Midnight

Many countries, including the United States, Japan, and Australia, celebrate the new year with elaborate fireworks displays.

Begin your New Year's Eve adventure by explaining the concept of time zones in a simple way. Share a world map with your preschoolers, pointing out different countries and their unique time zones. In major cities like New York City, Sydney, and London, people gather in large crowds for countdown parties in iconic locations like Times Square and the Sydney Opera House. As the clock strikes midnight in each region, engage the children in a countdown celebration. You can use a pretend clock or create a crafty countdown chart to make it interactive. Invite your preschoolers to make their own countdown to midnight with a Ball Drop and Countdown Craft.

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Fireworks

Crafting Around the Globe

Get creative with your preschoolers by making crafts inspired by New Year's traditions from various countries. For example, in Spain, it's customary to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight for good luck. Create a grape bunch craft using bottle cap stamping and discuss why grapes are considered lucky in Spain. Explore other customs such as making paper lanterns for China or crafting fireworks for the United States with a firework painting activity.

Create a Time Capsule

Help preschoolers create a time capsule to capture their favorite memories and aspirations for the upcoming year. Encourage them to draw pictures or use simple prompts to express their thoughts. This activity not only promotes creativity but also serves as a meaningful keepsake for both the children and their families.
Check out our Parent Engagement blog post for a free time capsule printable.

Free printable from our Parent Engagement Series

Celebrations Around the World

First-Footing (Scotland):

In Scotland, the first person to enter a home after the stroke of midnight is called the "First Footer." It is believed that the first footer brings good fortune for the coming year. Discuss this tradition with preschoolers and encourage them to create a simple "first-footing" craft, perhaps a footprint on a paper, symbolizing stepping into the new year.

Auld Lang Syne Singing (Worldwide):

People around the world join hands and sing "Auld Lang Syne," a Scottish poem-turned-song, to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one. Teach your preschoolers this song with this Auld Lang Syne YouTube Video.

Bell Ringing (Japan):

In Japan, many temples ring their bells 108 times at midnight to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief. Share with the children that this is a way to start the new year fresh and free from past wrongdoings. You can create your own bell craft or use musical instruments to create ringing sounds.

Grape Eating (Scotland):

Hogmanay (Scotland):

Spaniards eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, one for each chime of the clock, to ensure good luck for each month of the upcoming year.

In Scotland, they celebrate something called "Hogmanay." It's like a big, exciting party to welcome the new year. People visit their friends' houses, bringing gifts and spreading happiness. So, it's like a super fun party with friends and a little bit of magic to make the new year extra special!

Burning of the "Old Man" (Ecuador):

In Ecuador, people create life-sized effigies called "Año Viejo" (Old Man) and burn them at midnight to symbolize the end of the old year. It's like a big, friendly scarecrow made of old clothes and things. People create the Old Man to say goodbye to the old year. When it's time to welcome the new year, they set the Old Man on fire, and it lights up the night sky. It's a way of letting go of the past and getting ready for all the fun and adventures the new year will bring!

Polar Bear Plunge (Various):

In some colder regions, such as the Netherlands and Canada, brave individuals participate in "polar bear plunges" by jumping into icy waters to welcome the new year.

Lantern Festivals (China):

In China, they celebrate the Lantern Festival, which is like a big, glowing party! People make beautiful lanterns in all shapes and colors. They light up the lanterns and let them float into the sky, making it look like a magical wonderland. It's like when we play with colorful balloons, but in China, they use lanterns to make the night sky sparkle and bring good luck for the new year!

Vasilopita Cake (Greece):

In Greece, they celebrate the new year with a special cake called Vasilopita. It's a delicious cake, and what makes it extra special is that there's a hidden coin inside! They cut the cake, and whoever gets the piece with the coin is said to have good luck for the whole year.

Bonfires (Denmark):

In Denmark, it's a tradition to build and light large bonfires on New Year's Eve to symbolize the removal of evil spirits and welcome the new year.

Nochevieja (Mexico and Latin America):

In many Latin American countries, people celebrate "Nochevieja" by wearing colorful underwear, which is believed to bring good luck for the new year.

Hatsumode (Japan):

Japanese people visit Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples during the first days of the new year, praying for health, happiness, and prosperity in a custom called "hatsumode." They believe it brings good luck and a fresh start. It's like when we make a wish before blowing out birthday candles. Imagine going to a magical place with lots of pretty bells to make special wishes for the new year!

Kissing at Midnight (Various):

Throwing Old Items Out of a Window (Italy):

The tradition of sharing a kiss with a loved one at the stroke of midnight to ensure a year filled with love and affection is common in many countries worldwide.

In some parts of Italy, it's a tradition to throw old items out of windows to symbolize getting rid of the old and making way for the new. Discuss this tradition with preschoolers and engage them in a safe and controlled tossing activity, perhaps with paper streamers or confetti.

As we wrap up our journey exploring New Year's Eve celebrations from around the world, remember that even though people have different ways of celebrating, what makes the day so special is the happiness and love we share with family and friends. Teaching your preschoolers about the different traditions and celebrations around the world allows them to reflect on the most important thing, being together and looking forward to all the fun adventures the new year will bring. So, let's say cheers to a year full of joy, laughter, and lots of love!