Plan new beginnings
You will need to provide everyone with some paper and pens to write down their resolution.
Once collected you can then talk about why these are the ones most people make; or if they are different.
The top ten most common ones are:
- Exercise more.
- Lose weight.
- Get organized.
- Learn a new skill or hobby.
- Live life to the fullest.
- Save more money / spend less money.
- Quit smoking.
- Spend more time with family and friends.
The top ones most often broken are:
- Lose Weight and Get Fit
- Quit Smoking
- Learn Something New
- Eat Healthier and Diet
- Get Out of Debt and Save Money
- Spend More Time with Family
- Travel to New Places
- Be Less Stressed
- Volunteer
- Drink Less
New Year Traditions
- Brazil - wearing white clothing for prosperity, and luck, and to ward off evil spirits. .
- Japan - cleaning the house thoroughly and ringing temple bells 108 times to purify the past year's sins and welcome new blessings.
- Scotland - celebrating Hogmanay by first-footing, where the first guest of the year brings symbolic gifts like coal or shortbread to ensure warmth and abundance.
- South Africa - tossing old furniture out the window at midnight as a dramatic gesture to let go of the past and make room for new beginnings.
- Spain - eating twelve grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock, to bring good luck for each month of the coming year
- Colombia – carrying a suitcase in the hopes of a new year filled with travel, as well as money for financial security.
- Netherlands - Enjoying fireworks, burning cars and Christmas trees to get rid of the old and welcome the new, eating oliebollen (doughnut-like balls), and jumping into the North Sea
- Ecuador - Burning effigies to symbolize burning the año viejo, or “old year,” and hoping for good fortune in the new one.
- Denmark - Smashing plates and old dishes as a way to ward off evil spirits
- Switzerland - Dropping ice cream on the floor at midnight in the hopes of abundance, good luck, and wealth in the new year
- Greece - Known as the Festival of Saint Basil—founder of the Greek Orthodox Church—the Greek New Year is celebrated by hanging an onion on the door or waking children up by tapping an onion on their heads. Another custom includes eating Saint Basil’s cake (Vasilopita), which is baked with a silver or gold coin inside, the finder of which is considered especially lucky in the new year
- India - People all across India celebrate the new year in different ways, including dressing colourfully and partaking in fun activities, like going to parties, playing games, singing, dancing, watching fireworks, and more. Many people also use the holiday as a time to go to the movies, visit a nightclub, go out to eat, stay at a resort, or even visit an amusement park
