New Year's Eve is fast approaching, that much-loved but still annoying holiday. Running around looking for presents, taking care of the treats, entertaining guests... What if you gave in to the wanderlust spirit and celebrated the date change in another country? Every nation has traditions for celebrating New Year's Eve, not least of which is how to greet children. We'll give you some ideas of where the whole family can celebrate the New Year unusually.
Northern Europe: Aurora Borealis instead of Christmas lights
The authentic New Year's Eve story is to be found in the northern latitudes. There, in snowy Lapland, lives a kind and generous magician who gives children a present once a year. Wouldn't a child love to ring in the New Year with a visit from Santa Claus? The village of Joulupukki (the name of the Finnish Santa Claus) is located near the Finnish town of Rovaniemi, on the Arctic Circle.
Dress warmly — you'll want to walk around the village and the Snowman World theme park all day. The list of things to do includes sending greetings from the post office where the gnomes work, a visit to the gnome photo studio, snow slide rides, a cup of hot cocoa at the Ice Café and, of course, a visit to Joulupukki. Take a closer look at the Wizard's Chamber, and you may solve the mystery of how Santa manages to deliver presents to all the children in one night.
If you're on holiday in Finland with children on New Year's Eve, don't just stay in the hotel but get out into the streets. The illuminations, fireworks and everyone's good cheer will make for an unforgettable holiday.
There are other good-hearted wizards in cold Scandinavia. If you take your children to Sweden, you'll meet Grandpa Tomte and visit the Kingdom of Winter. And on New Year's Eve, Swedes make New Year's resolutions — maybe the kids will want to make one, too (like exercising in the morning).
At Lake Savalen in Norway, you'll meet Julenissen. Grandpa Nisse, as the little Norwegians call him, welcomes guests all year round, and his wife treats them to delicious waffles. But it's not just grandpa who gives presents to the children — in this country, the goat gives presents to the children, and they put dried oats in their shoes as presents. On New Year's Eve, you may receive a gift from a passer-by — matches symbolise warmth and happiness in Norway.
New Year in a ski resort: snow slides guaranteed
Snow is an essential part of the New Year. Unfortunately, the weather on New Year's Eve and the winter holidays can be snowy or even slushy. To ensure you don't get bored at home, take your family to a ski resort. Many resorts in the Alps of Austria, Germany and Italy are specially designed for holidays with children.
There are children's ski schools, separate areas for toddlers and schoolchildren, and winter amusement parks. Even if a child isn't interested in skiing, they won't mind going sledging or tobogganing. It's an excellent opportunity to try out unusual means of transport at the crossroads of snowboarding, skiing, sledging and cycling: snow bikes, skifoxes, and snowshoes.
A dog sled ride on a snow road is an unforgettable experience. The best resorts for children are Serfaus, Seefeld and Ski Circus in Austria, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Reit im Winkl and Oberstdorf in Germany and the Dolomites in Italy.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia ski resorts, you can add bobsleighing to your winter fun. Even pre-schoolers can take to the bobsleigh track, sitting in a two-seater sled with their mum or dad.
Western Europe: A Christmas star above the rooftops
It's not as cold in Western Europe's cities as in the mountains or circumpolar regions. Sometimes there's not even snow on the streets — but thanks to holiday shop windows and festive illuminations, the winter spirit is everywhere. Christmas markets come alive in November in the town squares in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and other Western European countries.
These are places where even buying a souvenir becomes a magical experience. In Vienna look out for little piggy figurines (for good luck), while in Prague, you'll find packages of Christmas incense. Children will enjoy merry-go-rounds and other attractions, aromatic gingerbread, feeding sheep and goats in outdoor nativity scenes, meeting Father Christmas and other fun activities. If you plan to take your children to Austria for Christmas, get tickets for the Vienna State Opera and the Nutcracker Ballet.
The festivities fade away on Christmas Eve, only to flare up again in the New Year's Eve run-up. In the Austrian capital, the New Year's Eve procession winds through the main streets, where stages join stalls selling souvenirs and sweets for concerts. You can listen to rock hits or learn to dance the Viennese waltz.
This skill will come in handy on New Year's Eve: When the bell of St Stephen's Cathedral strikes 12 times, you'll hear the waltz of Johann Strauss, and people on foot will whirl around dancing. Then a magnificent fireworks display lights up the city. And on the last day of the year, the streets are lined with Sylvester clauses as the Catholic world celebrates St Sylvester's Day on 31 December. And on this day, a dirty chimney sweep walks the streets of Vienna — it's believed that getting your clothes dirty will bring you good luck in the New Year.
New Year's Eve in Prague is celebrated around the main Christmas tree in the Old Town Square. But it is only when the ancient clock "Orloj" chimes in the New Year that many rush to the Charles Bridge — a wish made there on New Year's Eve is sure to come true. Treat your children to a musical about Marie and the brave Nutcracker on the eve of or after the holidays.
The flow of time can be seen with your own eyes when you celebrate New Year's Eve in Budapest. At midnight, an eight-metre-high hourglass called the Wheel of Time turns, and the first seconds of the New Year are marked by grains of sand falling to the bottom. People in masks walk the streets throughout the day, and blowing whistles can be heard everywhere. And kiosks sell festive strudel, or Rétescake as it's known here.
Conversely, Tallinn is sure to have a snowy New Year's Eve, with frost and winter games. Children have time to meet Estonia's Father Christmas in the run-up to Christmas, known locally as Jõulumvana. Look out for Advent candles and children's slippers in the windows, where the Lapp gnomes leave presents. If you come to Estonia after Christmas, put your children's slippers in the window, as the gnomes won't leave them without a present. On the first night of the New Year, you don't have to celebrate in the Town Hall Square. You can walk through the fairytale Old Town or enjoy the magic of Tallinn from one of the city's viewpoints.
But the best gift for a child is New Year's Eve at Disneyland Paris. This theme park is always the epitome of a child's dream, and a trip here for the winter holidays is the surprise of surprises. Tickets should be bought well in advance as many adults also try to visit Disneyland during this time.
Warm places to go for New Year's Eve
A paradoxical but very tempting option is to escape the winter to warmer climes. A New Year on the beach will be long remembered, and no one will be left without tangerines. Choose from traditional destinations (Egypt, Thailand, UAE) or exotic ones (Dominican Republic, India, Vietnam, Philippines). Read more about which warm countries are famous for New Year's Eve celebrations.
Finally, may the New Year bring your family new joy and new experiences!
