European New Year Celebrations
The new year is celebrated in Europe with special songs, greetings, and gifts. Teach your students about “First Footers” and other traditions celebrated in France, Great Britain, Greece, Scotland, and Denmark.
New Year in France
In France, for the New Year (Peille Fete) the children write New Years letters and send them to their mother with good wishes and apologies for any wrongdoings during the past year.New Year in Great Britain
In Great Britain, part of the festivities includes the “burning of the bush,” or burning up the past year. Also, there are the “first footers,” the persons who are first to cross the threshold in the New Year. They should arrive bearing gifts, usually food. At midnight, on the first stroke the back door is opened to release the Old Year. Then the door is locked to keep in the luck and the front door is opened at the twelfth stroke to let in the New Year.New Year in Greece and Scotland
First visitors on New Years are important in Greece, also. And in Scotland, the first footers should bring gifts of bread, salt, and coal.New Year's Eve Trickery in Denmark
In Denmark, this is a night of pranks and jokes for young people. Children ring the doorbell and run. Finally, at the end of the evening the children are “caught” and brought indoors for treats.New Year Activity
The First Footers: Make a “threshold” in the classroom (even a pillow can be used as something to step over). Discuss the idea that the New Year “first footers” (those first over the threshold in the new year) are symbolic of what is to follow. So, you want to put your best foot forward. Have each student step over the threshold with a personal New Years resolution or a resolution that a famous storybook character might give.
