"All holidays come with their own special form of excitement. From the memories of hot Fourth of July days to the fun Halloween costumes in the fall to the chilly holiday nights, each one has a special magic to it. If you ask me, though, there’s always been something just a little extra special about New Year’s Eve.
When I was young, my family’s celebrations included spending the night in our favorite pajamas, watching movies, eating tasty appetizers for dinner, and watching the ball drop (or falling asleep in front of the TV, if I’m being honest). My mom never failed to make it special by whipping up my sister’s and my favorite treats—stuffed mushrooms for her and cocktail weenies for me. And we never forgot the sparkling apple juice to “toast” with.
These days, our toasts include actual champagne, but the traditions are pretty similar: hanging out in our comfy clothes while snacking on our favorite treats all night. I love that we’ve kept the tradition going all of these years.
If you’re looking to start some new traditions with your family this New Year’s Eve, allow us to help. Here, we’ve rounded up 12 of the best New Year’s Eve family traditions everyone will enjoy.
Fun New Year’s Eve Family Traditions to Start This Year
1. Watch a countdown
We had to start with a classic NYE tradition. Whether you watch the Times Square ball drop or find a New Year’s Eve countdown for kids, you can count down the hours to the new year together.
2. Throw a NYE party
There’s no better way to ring in the new year than with the people you love the most. Have them all in one place when the clock strikes midnight (or 9 p.m.) by hosting a get-together. This will be especially fun if your friends and your kids’ friends are invited, and it is sure to be an event everyone wants to repeat.
3. New Year’s Eve PJs for the family
If getting dressed up isn’t your thing, dress down instead! Get everyone special New Year’s Eve pajamas to ring in the new year. Or, get extra festive and have everyone at the party dress in their most festive, cozy clothes.
4. Make a good luck recipe from another culture
Many cultures throughout the world utilize food to usher in good luck for the new year. In the Netherlands, residents foster good luck by eating doughnut-like pastries called oliebollen (sign us up!), while dumplings symbolize wealth and are a part of the Lunar New Year. Celebrate your family’s unique cultural heritage or learn about other cultures this year.
5. Eat 12 grapes at midnight
Take a fun, festive tradition from Spain and make it your own! Each of the 12 grapes is said to symbolize a month of the new year, and by eating the grapes, you’re ensuring good luck in the year ahead. Do as the Spanish do, or make it personalized to your family with whatever treat you fancy.
6. Dress up in all white
Speaking of other cultures and good luck, give this tradition from Brazil a try this year. In Brazil, many celebrate ringing in the new year by wearing white, which symbolizes peace in the year to come. They also celebrate by wearing new underwear in a specific color based on what they hope for the new year. Some examples are pink for love, yellow for money, blue for friendship, and white for peace.
7. Make an affirmations list
We’re no strangers to New Year’s resolutions, but many of us have not tapped into the power of positive affirmations yet. These short, positive phrases are things we speak out loud to ourselves for pieces of encouragement. While you’re thinking about what you want to accomplish in the new year, think about how you want to feel, too. Simple phrases like, “I’m proud of myself,” when said out loud, have the power to become fact once we hear them enough. Put together affirmation lists as a family and go into the new year with positive reminders together.
8. Talk about the best moments of the previous year
What better way to say goodbye to the year than by looking back on all of its best moments? This year, get together as a family and reflect with each other about the best moments. What achievements are you most proud of? What was the most fun family event? Take some time to look back on all of the good times you each had.
9. Show some love at midnight
Go into the new year feeling lots of love by giving out hugs and kisses to family members when midnight rolls around.
10. Light sparklers when it gets dark outside
Ensure the new year is full of light by using sparklers (safely) when the sun goes down on New Year’s Eve. As a bonus, they make for a great photo op, too! Worried about the safety of sparklers with little ones around? Try fiber-optic glow wands as a kid-safe alternative.
11. Have a friendly competition
End the year with lots of laughs by having a family game night on New Year’s Eve. Play everyone’s favorite and have a friendly competition where everyone can get involved. Bust out the board games, card games, and charades for tons of family fun. Or check out social media for funny New Year’s trending games like “Don’t Break the Toilet Paper/Pull the Wine Glass.”
12. Make a bucket list for the year ahead
After reflecting on the magic the previous year brought, begin to look ahead. Talk about hopes and wishes for the coming year, and write down the things you all hope to accomplish. Include exciting goals, milestones, and fun plans like family trips you want to go on. As you go throughout the year, you can all mark things off as you complete them. This will also serve as a great reminder of how exciting the year was when you look back next NYE.