New Years

New Years Around the World

Happy New Years!!!

New Year's is celebrated around the
world in many ways. From smashing
plates to eating grapes, every
country has their own traditions for
welcoming the new year.

The first New
Years celebration

New Years has been
celebrated for over a
thousand years. In fact
the earliest known
festivals took place
around 2000 BCE in
Mesopotamia.

Israel

Does not celebrate New Years

The first Times
Square ball drop.

Times Square in New
York first dropped
the ball in 1907. Since
then it has become
an American tradition
to watch it drop.

Denmark

The Danes like to smash
plates and cups against
their friends front door to
symbolize affection and
everlasting friendship.

Multiple Choice

What do Danish people throw plates at?

Puerto Rico

Puerto Ricans bring
in the new year by
tossing buckets of
water out of their
windows to wash
away the old year.

Match

Match the following

• America

• Mesopotamia

• Israel

• Denmark

• Puerto Rico

Drops a ball.

Celebrated over 4000 years ago.

Does not celebrate New Years

Throws plates at doors.

Throws water out of their windows.

• Drops a ball.

• Celebrated over 4000 years ago.

• Does not celebrate New Years

• Throws plates at doors.

• Throws water out of their windows.

Spain

New Years tradition in
Spain is to eat 12 green
grapes when the clock
strikes midnight in
order to bring good
luck. Each grape
represents the 12
months.

Reorder

Reorder the following

• Spanish people

• eat

• grapes on

• New Years.

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

New Zealand

New Zealand has the

privilege of being one of the
first countries to ring in the

new year.

Brazil

Brazilians go to the beach
and jump over seven
waves when the clock
strikes midnight. This is
believed to bring good
luck and you can make a
wish for every wave you
jump over.

France

In France it is believed that if you
eat a big feast during New Years

that it will bring prosperity.

Chile

Chileans spend the night in

cemeteries with their deceased
loved ones as a way to honour

them.

Finland

In Finland, people melt tin to tell
their fortunes. When it cools in
water they can predict how the

new year will treat them.

Match

Match the following

• New Zealand

• Brazil

• France

• Chile

• Finland

Celebrates New Years first.

Jumps over 7 waves.

Eats a big meal.

Spends time with dead relatives.

Melts tin for fortunes.

• Celebrates New Years first.

• Jumps over 7 waves.

• Eats a big meal.

• Spends time with dead relatives.

• Melts tin for fortunes.