New Year’s is approaching – and it’s one of the best times of year to stay up late with your kids, make memories, and talk about what’s ahead. But did you know the holiday has a history full of fun stories and traditions that kids will love? Here are 10 fun facts about New Year’s – plus easy ways to bring each one to life at home.

• New Year’s Is 4,000 Years Old. People have been celebrating the new year for a very long time – nearly 4,000 years! Julius Caesar, the leader of ancient Rome, was the first to make January 1st an official holiday. He named the month “January” after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gates. Janus had two faces: one looking forward into the future and one looking back at the past. Caesar thought that was the perfect symbol for the start of a new year. Ask your kids: “If you had two faces like Janus, what’s one thing from this past year you’d look back on, and one thing you’re excited about next year?”
• Resolutions Are a Big Deal – But Hard to Keep. About 45 percent of Americans make New Year’s resolutions. The most popular ones include losing weight, getting organized, spending less money, staying healthy, and quitting smoking. But here’s the tough part: about 25 percent of people give up on their resolution by the second week of January. That’s why resolutions work best when they’re small, clear, and something you really care about. Help your child pick one small, fun goal – like reading 10 books or trying one new food each month. Write it down together and tape it to the fridge!
• Certain Foods Are Said to Bring Good Luck. Many families have food traditions on New Year’s Day. According to old beliefs, eating leafy green vegetables brings money and good luck in the year ahead. Beans and peas are also popular because they look like little coins – which is why so many people eat black-eyed peas on January 1st. Whether or not you believe in food-based luck, it’s a great excuse to cook something fun and meaningful with your family. Make a “lucky meal” together on New Year’s Day! Let your kids pick one green veggie and one bean dish, then talk about what kind of luck you’re hoping for in the new year.
• Sparkling Drinks Have Been Part of the Party for Centuries. Americans drink close to 360 million glasses of sparkling wine on New Year’s Eve. The tradition of popping open a bubbly bottle goes all the way back to the 1600s, when the cork was first invented. Kids shouldn’t drink champagne – but that doesn’t mean they have to miss out. Sparkling cider or sparkling juice is just as festive for a midnight toast. Pick up sparkling apple cider or grape juice so your little ones can clink glasses right along with the grown-ups when the clock strikes midnight.
• About 1 Million People Watch the Ball Drop in Times Square. Every year, around one million people crowd into New York City’s Times Square to watch a giant glowing ball slide down a pole as midnight approaches. The tradition started in 1907 because fireworks were banned in the city. The first ball weighed 700 pounds and was lit by just 100 light bulbs. Today’s ball weighs nearly 12,000 pounds, is 12 feet wide, and is covered in 2,688 crystals and 32,000 LED lights. You don’t have to be there in person to enjoy it – the ball drop is broadcast on TV every year. Tune in with your kids to watch the Times Square ball drop. Count down together from 10 and make it a big moment!
• “Auld Lang Syne” Is the Most Famous Song You Don’t Know the Words To. Right at midnight, people everywhere start singing “Auld Lang Syne.” The song was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788, and it’s been a New Year’s tradition ever since. Most people only know the first few words – and that’s okay! The song is about remembering the people we love, whether they’re still with us or not. It’s a reminder to hold the important people in our lives close. Look up the words to “Auld Lang Syne” with your kids and try to sing it together. Then go around the room and have everyone name one person they’re grateful for this year.
• Meet Baby New Year – New Year’s Very Own Holiday Symbol. Just like Santa Claus represents Christmas, “Baby New Year” is the symbol of the new year. He’s usually shown wearing a diaper, a tiny black top hat, and a sash with the new year’s numbers on it. The legend says that Baby New Year slowly grows into an old man over the course of the year, meant to show how quickly time passes. Have your kids draw their own version of Baby New Year! They can design the sash, the hat, and any other details they want. It makes a fun keepsake.
• Who You’re With at Midnight Matters. Old tradition says that the first person you see in the new year can set the tone for the next 12 months. That’s a great reason to make sure you’re surrounded by the people you love most – your family! There’s no better way to start a new year than with a big group hug, a family cheer, or a countdown where everyone yells the numbers together. Start a new family tradition: at midnight, everyone shares one word that describes how they want to feel in the new year. Write them down and save them to read next December.
• Philadelphia Has One of America’s Coolest New Year’s Parades. Every New Year’s Day, the city of Philadelphia hosts the Mummers Parade, where 10,000 performers march through the city in colorful, over-the-top costumes. The parade has been going on since the mid-1600s and draws from Irish, German, English, Swedish, and other European traditions. It’s split into five groups, including string bands, comedy groups, and fancy costume divisions. Can’t make it to Philly? Search for Mummers Parade videos online and watch some clips with your kids. Then challenge them to design their own wild parade costume!
• New Year’s Day Has the Highest Rate of Car Theft of Any Holiday. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, more cars are stolen on New Year’s Day than on any other holiday. Celebrations can lead to distractions, and thieves take advantage of that. The best way to protect your car is to park in a well-lit, busy area and always take your keys with you. Use this as a quick safety chat with older kids about being aware of your surroundings, locking up, and looking out for one another – especially in busy, crowded places.

The best part about New Year’s? It belongs to everyone – kids included. Whether you’re watching the ball drop in your pajamas, cooking a lucky meal, counting down from ten, or singing a song nobody knows the words to, the holiday is really about one thing: being together. Use these facts to spark some great conversations, start some new traditions, and make this New Year’s Eve one your family will remember long after the confetti settles.