Celebrating the New Year with kids!

New Year’s is when we see out the old year and ring in the new.  New Year's Eve is a celebrated across the globe. Many cultures have fireworks displays and other festivities to celebrate the start of the New Year. In Mexico, people make a wish and eat a grape with each of the twelve chimes of the bell during the New Year countdown.  In Brazil, people typically dress in white in order to bring luck into the upcoming year.

In the United States, New Year's Eve is a major social holiday. People often head to New York City to watch "the ball drop," a tradition that began in 1907 after firecrackers were outlawed. Following the lowering of the ball, people typically sing Auld Lang Syne and adults drink champagne at parties and other social gatherings. (Info and lyrics for Auld Lang Syne at bottom of post)

New Years Eve Crafts with Kids

Starting from left to right:
Time Capsule Jars - click HERE for the how to's
Resolution Magnet - click HERE for the how to's
Sequin Ball - click HERE for the how to's

Pomegranate Lime Bubbly - click HERE for the how to's
Personalized 2011 Drink Cups - click HEREfor the how to's

New Year Horns - click HERE for how to's 

New Year Crown - click HERE for the how to's
Countdown Clocks - click HERE for the how to's

New Year's Eve Bingo Printable - click HERE for the how to's


Bubble Favors - click HERE for the how to's
New Years Eve Ball - HERE for the how to's
Editable New Year's Party Horns - click HERE for the how to's



Happy New Year Garland - click HERE for the how to's
Champagne Cork Wire Chair - click HERE for the how to's 

Memories on a string - click HERE for the how to's     

New Years Trivia: Did you know that a raisin dropped in a glass of fresh champagne will bounce up and down continuously from the bottom of the glass to the top.

 

** Get a FREE 2011 Calendar from Oriental Trading Company - to order click HERE 

Information About the New Year's Eve Song Auld Lang Syne

“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scottish poem that was written by Robert Burns in 1788. Eventually, it was set to the traditional folksong “Roud 6294” and is most commonly heard at events marking a farewell or ending such as New Year’s Eve, funerals and graduation ceremonies.

Auld Lang Syne – What does it mean?

The most accepted translation is “old long since.” However, other translations include “long, long ago,” “times gone by” and “old times.”

Here are the Lyrics to Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne : Words Adapted from a Traditional Song (1788)
by Robert Burns (1759-96) et al

FIRST VERSE:

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!

SECOND VERSE:

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!

And surely I'll be mine!

And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,

For auld lang syne.

(REPEAT CHORUS)

THIRD VERSE:

We twa hae run about the braes,

And pou'd the gowans fine,

But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,

Sin' auld lang syne.

(REPEAT CHORUS)

FOURTH VERSE:

We twa hae paidl'd i' the burn

Frae morning sun till dine,

But seas between us braid hae roar'd

Sin' auld lang syne.

(REPEAT CHORUS)

FIFTH VERSE:

And there's a hand my trusty fere,

And gie's a hand o' thine,

And we'll tak a right gud-willie waught,

For auld lang syne

(FINISH WITH CHORUS)

The Meaning of the Words to Auld Lang Syne

Definitions of Lyrics to Auld Lang Syne:
Word definitions are according to Hogmanay.net (Hogmanay being the New Year in Scotland) and the Burns Country site linked above.
auld lang syne - old long ago (or times gone by)
auld - old
be - pay for (buy)
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
frae - from
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
hae - have
lang - long
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl'td- paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
sin'- since
syne - Before now; ago
tak - take
twa - two

How to say Happy New Years in different languages:

 

China "Gung Hay Fat Choy "


Denmark "Godt Nytår"

France "Bonne Année"

Germany "Gutes Neues Jahr"

Hawaii "Hauoli Makahiki Hou"

Ireland "Aith-bhliain fé mhaise dhuit"

Israel "Shana Tova"

Italy "Buon Capo d'Auno"

Japan "Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu"

Netherlands "Gelukkig Nieuwjaar"

Norway "Godt Nytt År"

Phillipines "Maligayang Bagong Taon"

Poland "Szczesliwego Nowego Roku"

Portugal "Feliz Ano Novo"

Spain "Feliz Año Nuevo"

Sweden "Gott Nytt År"

Turkey "Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun"

United States "Happy New Year! "