New Year Facts for Kids

A huge New Year's Eve party in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This cartoon from 1905 shows Baby New Year chasing away the old year.

The New Year is a special time when people around the world celebrate the end of one year and the start of a new one. It's a moment for fresh beginnings and looking forward to what's next. Almost every culture that uses a yearly calendar has its own way of celebrating this important event.

For many countries, the New Year officially begins on January 1st. Scotland was one of the first countries to make January 1st the start of the New Year back in 1600. Today, this date is celebrated by a large part of the world.

Celebrating the New Year
- Traditions Around the World
- New Year's Eve and Day
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Celebrating the New Year

People celebrate the New Year in many different ways, often with exciting traditions and parties.

Traditions Around the World

Many countries have unique customs to welcome the New Year.

In places like China, people celebrate with colorful dragon dances and special family meals.
Many cities, like Rio de Janeiro and Helsinki, have huge fireworks shows when the clock strikes midnight.
Some cultures have special foods they eat for good luck in the new year.
People often make "New Year's resolutions," which are promises to themselves to do better or achieve goals in the coming year.

New Year's Eve and Day

The celebrations often begin on New Year's Eve, the night before the New Year.

On New Year's Eve, friends and families gather for parties, concerts, and countdowns to midnight.
When midnight arrives, people cheer, hug, and watch fireworks light up the sky.
New Year's Day itself is often a public holiday, a time for rest, reflection, and spending time with loved ones.