New Year Assembly

Aim:
• To understand the celebration of New Year.

Music:
• Music related to New Year’s Eve, particularly ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

Resources:
• Party hat, party blowers, pieces of paper and pencils, audio of Big Ben striking 12 midnight, mistletoe.

Slide 2:
Ask a couple of children to come out to the front and give each of them a party
hat and/or a party blower. Play the audio of Big Ben. Ask the audience what the What Is New Year?

children could be celebrating.

New Year's Day is the first day of the new year.
It is celebrated as a holiday in almost every country in the world.

It is a time of fun, remembering the past,

and hoping for good things in the future.

Once New Year has been established, ask the audience to share their family Many people celebrate New Year’s Eve by spending time
with family and friends, eating, drinking and dancing.

traditions for celebrating New Year. Once the idea of resolutions has been In England, Big Ben strikes at midnight to welcome the New Year.

established, ask the children at the front to write on a piece of paper what they In Scotland, New Year is called Hogmanay. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a
world-famous New Year festival and is three days of spectacular events,

would choose for their New Year resolution (keep it anonymous so ask the
fireworks and audiences from every corner of the globe.

children not to put their names on the paper). The children can then return to
their places.

A Time for Celebration

Slide 3:
Talk to the children about the traditions of New Year and the celebrations
famous in the United Kingdom.

When Did It All Start?

Slide 4:
In England, priests started to celebrate
their New Year on 10th March each year.

Show the children a branch of mistletoe. Ask the children what it is and where
They gave branches of mistletoe to people for charms.

Later, English people followed the custom of cleaning their

they would see it at Christmas time. Go on to talk about the origins of New Year chimneys on New Year's Day as they believed this brought good
luck to the household for the coming year.

and how the tradition we know today has evolved. The expression "cleaning the slate" came from
this custom. It means making resolutions to
correct faults and bad habits.

Happy New Year

• China (Cantonese) – “Gung Hay Fat Choy”
• Denmark (Danish) – “Godt Nytår”
• France (French) – “Bonne Année”

Slide 6, 7, 8:
• Germany (German) – “Gutes Neues Jahr”
• Hawaii (Hawaiian) – “Hau’oli Makahiki Hou”
• Ireland (Irish) – “Aith-bhliain fé mhaise dhuit”
• Israel (Hebrew) – “Shana Tova”

Discuss with the children how New Year is celebrated around New Year around the World
• Italy (Italian) – “Buon Capo d'Auno”
• Japan (Japanese) – “Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu”
• Netherlands (Dutch) – “Gelukkig Nieuwjaar”

the world. Look at the photos together and ask the children • Norway (Norwegian) – “Godt Nytt År”

what similarities and differences they can see to how they might London New York Sydney

celebrate New Year in their homes. Look together at the different New Year’s Resolutions
People resolve to make themselves better in the New Year.

ways of saying “Happy New Year!” Do the children recognize any

It is still customary today to make a list of resolutions.
Germany Edinburgh Hong Kong

Is there
Have you

of these? Practise saying the phrases together.

anything
made any
that you
New Year’s
may like to
resolutions?
give up?
Is there
anything
that you Could you be
would like to more helpful
do better this in any way?
year?

Page 1 of 2
New Year Assembly

Slide 9: Some Examples…

Remind the children about what points were made at the beginning of the I will try to work harder at school.

assembly about New Year being a time for making resolutions and starting
I will eat more vegetables and less sweets.

I will do some more exercise.

afresh. Read out some of the resolutions the children made at the beginning I will try to keep my bedroom tidy.

I will stop biting my fingernails.

of the assembly. Ask the children if they have similar resolutions. Look at I will smile more.

the examples on the slide and then ask the children to think about what their
I will always get my work finished on time.

I will be kinder to my brother/sister.

resolutions would be.

Reflection
Play ‘Auld Lang Syne’ and ask the children to think about one resolution they are going to make for the New Year.

Ask the children to share this if they wish.

Wish the children a very happy New Year and dismiss the assembly.

Page 2 of 2