Celebrated on the first day of the Gregorian and Julian calendar, this holiday focuses on renewal and start of something fresh. A quarter of Americans routinely don't celebrate at New Years at all while just under half of the country takes part in the countdown. While they are counting down one in three Americans are already asleep. Although we often take it for granted, it is widely seen as the fourth most popular holiday behind Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The series that is presented forces students to think a little more on their toes. There are a good helping of critical thinking sheets and puzzles to accompany the reading a writing activities.
Print New Years Day Worksheets
Click the buttons to print each worksheet and associated answer key.
Fill In
Civilizations all over the world have been celebrating the beginning of new years for thousands of years.
Resolutions
Write what you resolve to do, why you want to do it, and how it will benefit you or others.
Looking Back and Forward
Think back across your life over the past year, and answer the questions below.
How Much Do You Know
This Roman leader made January 1st the official first day of the New Year. This ancient Looking strated this whole crazy thing.
Who's the Baby?
The New Year is commonly represented in cartoons as a baby. The baby symbolizes both a new beginning and growth.
More Resolutions
A new thing I want to try this year is what? What are all your thoughts about the upcoming year?
The Best Me I Can Be
What changes do you want to make in your life in the new year? What do you want to accomplish?
History of Resolutions
The custom of making resolutions happens all over the world. The Babylonians are believed to have been the first culture to bring this stuff to the surface.
In Babylon
The ancient Babylonians were the first recorded culture to celebrate the New Year, almost 4,000 years ago.
Word Ladders
Each ladder contains a pair of words. Find the words that connect the two, changing only one letter per step.
What is New Year's Day?
We celebrate New Year's every year. But do you know how and when it is celebrated? Let's take a look!
According to the Gregorian and Julian calendar, January 1st is a national holiday that celebrates New Year's Day. The New Year Day marks the start of a new with new resolutions and new possibilities. It is also a marking of newly found happiness and restarting life with a clean slate. People consider New Year's to be a reminder of looking ahead to the future, leaving sadness behind and make positive changes in their lives.
There are lots of ways in which people celebrate New Year's. At the stroke of midnight, fireworks are released into the sky. Parades around the world are held to welcome the New Year with happiness. People everywhere celebrate the day with champagne and a variety of different foods as well. People keep their loved ones close and follow traditions that are meant to bring good luck and success for the new year.
Fun Facts about This Holiday
The new year dawn, seen as a time for reflection and renewal, is a time to reflect on the past twelve months and assess what went well and what could improve. It's also a time to set resolutions for the coming year and plan to achieve them.
New year's eve is a time for many people to reflect on their health and wellness. Did they eat well? Exercise regularly? Get enough sleep? These are all important factors in overall health and well-being. Others may reflect on their relationships. Did they spend enough time with family and friends?
First New Year
New Year's celebrations can be traced back to ancient Babylon, where Marduk, the god of Babylon, was honoured. Around 4,000 years ago, this event was celebrated for the first time. After the introduction of the Julian calendar, which designated January 1 as the start of the year. It wasn't until 1752 that England finally adopted January 1 as the first day of the year.
The Resolutions
In America, forty-five per cent of people make promises to themselves. Most promises are about being fit and losing weight. These resolutions are typically about improving oneself in some way. People may resolve to exercise more, eat healthier, or save money. Resolving is often seen as the first step toward changing one's life. However, more than half of these lose their promises made to themselves by the end of February.
Ball Drop and Its Popularity
The Ball drop is one of the most awaited events related to New Year’s Eve. It dates back to 1907 and has continued to grow in popularity over the years. People come from all over the world to celebrate the new year in this iconic location.
The ball drop is just one of the many festive activities in the United States. Others include celebrations at the Statue of Liberty etc. People enjoy the night's music, lights, and excitement.
Spending New Year's Eve in Times Square is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many. It is a chance to be a part of something truly special and memorable. As the clock strikes twelve and the new year begins, there is a feeling of unity among all those gathered in this iconic location.
Most Vehicles Stolen
There is an increasing trend in vehicle theft around New Year's Eve. In fact, according to recent data from the FBI, the number of vehicles stolen on New Year’s Eve is greater than on other events of the year. This may be due, in part, to the fact that people tend to celebrate New Year's Eve in large groups, often leaving their cars unattended while they're inside enjoying themselves. Whatever the reason, drivers need to take precautions to protect their vehicles during this period.
Unusual Traditions
Many unusual traditions are followed in each country and are related to different beliefs of people. The citizens in the US eat black-eyed peas. Another tradition is to wear something new on New Year's Day. Some people in Denmark throw dishes on New Year's Day. The more broken dishes, the more luck the person will have.
The people in Spain eat twelve grapes. One grape represents one month of the year. In Japan, a special dish is eaten on New Year's Day. This dish is called ozoni, and it consists of mochi (rice cakes) in a soup.
Russians make their wish, write it on paper, and burn the paper. They believe that this will make their wish come true.
Don't forget to spend this auspicious with your loved ones!