New Year's Eve Facts for Kids

New Year's Eve fireworks over Sydney.

New Year's Eve is a special holiday on December 31. It's the very last day of the year, right before New Year's Day.

Many countries, especially in the Western world, celebrate this day with big parties. These parties often end with everyone counting down to midnight. When the clock strikes twelve, it means a new year has begun! People often wear fun party hats and use noisemakers.

Many cities around the world have amazing fireworks shows. These bright, noisy displays are a popular way to welcome the new year. Famous cities for New Year's Eve celebrations include Berlin, Chicago, Edinburgh, London, New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, and Tokyo.

In some countries, New Year's Eve is also a public holiday. This means many people don't have to work. Some of these countries are Australia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Mexico, the Philippines, and Venezuela.

Other New Year Celebrations

While many celebrate on December 31st, not everyone does! Different cultures have their own special New Year traditions and dates.

Chinese New Year: This celebration happens at a different time each year, based on the lunar calendar. It's a very important holiday in China and other Asian countries.
Omisoka (Japan): In Japan, New Year's Eve is called Omisoka. It's a time for cleaning and preparing for the new year.

Images for kids

HKN's Davido entertaining the crowd at the Lagos Countdown 2012 in Nigeria
The burning of dolls is a local tradition in the city of La Plata.
Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro hosts one of the world's largest fireworks displays on New Year's Eve, attracting millions of spectators.
Over one million visitors crowd the streets and beaches of Valparaiso each New Year's Eve.
Crowds gather annually on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, New York City to attend the countdown to the ball drop at midnight. In addition, a worldwide audience of one billion or more watch the Times Square Ball drop on various digital media platforms.
Countries where the main celebrations of the New Year are other day than on 1 January
Fireworks display in Hong Kong.
Tokyo Tower on New Year's Eve, 2012
Fireworks in George Town, Penang on 1 January 2018
Fireworks in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Fireworks display in Manila Bay in front of the SM Mall of Asia
The Taipei 101 fireworks show in 2009.
Fireworks at Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand 2019
Prague New Year Fireworks
New Year fireworks over Copenhagen
Fireworks in the forest of Ruka on New Year's Eve in Kuusamo, Finland
Midnight – Millenáris, NYE 2017
New Year fireworks over Reykjavík, Iceland
Romexpo indoors during Vanghelion New Year's Eve party.
Madrid's Puerta del Sol on New Year's Eve, 2005.
Gothenburg fireworks on New Year's Eve, 2008.
New Year's Eve decorations in Kadıköy, Istanbul.
New Year celebration in Kyiv
Thousands of Brits gather in central London for New Year celebrations, including fireworks at the London Eye at midnight.
Hogmanay fireworks in Edinburgh.
A Mari Lwyd c. 1910–1914. Traditionally carried from door to door during Calennig in Wales
Casablanca fireworks display
New year celebrations, including fireworks at the Burj Khalifa at midnight
Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations
John Masey Wright and John Rogers' c. 1841 illustration of "Auld Lang Syne".
Sydney's "waterfall" firework display in 2008
Fireworks in Melbourne, Australia, 2008
Fireworks in Brisbane, Queensland, 2012
Fireworks in Canberra, Australia, in 2017 with Parliament House to the left.

New Year's Eve facts for kids

Other New Year Celebrations

Images for kids

See also