Traditions/activities for AFTER Christmas and at New Year?

[megandraper]

It can feel a bit flat sometimes between Christmas and New Year. Not going away this year, or having visitors (probably).

Anyone have any nice traditions / activities that they do between Christmas and New Year? And how do you make New Year special for young DC?

Hope there's some good ideas out there!

[Chrysanthemum5]

We tend to meet up with family for a walk followed by a cup of tea and cake between Christmas and New Year. Apart from that we don't really do much other than play with new toys!

At Hogmanay the DCs go to bed as usual, then just before midnight we get them up and we have a picnic on the floor while listening to the bells. They love it, but they are so tired they go straight to sleep afterwards!

[racingheart]

Boxing Day we either have a big family party or go for a walk round a lovely local NT property.

One day in London to see a show.

Fireworks in the garden on New Year's Eve. I get extra long sparklers and the DC write their wishes for the new year in the air with them. This year we're having a party so it'll be Chinese lanterns going up.

Fix up a playdate or two so they can show their presents to their friends.

New Year's Day is hike up Box Hill to watch the breathless bagpipe player and generally run off some of the newly acquired layers of fat!

[3bunnies]

Last year for new year we had a time shift party. Started at 1pm with a BBQ (under grill of course) to celebrate New Year in Sydney, watched fireworks on the news. 5:30pm had curry to celebrate Dehli's midnight, 8pm I think it was Moscow, 9pm Nairobi, 10pm Athens. We felt as if we had all celebrated enough New Years eves then, so went to bed, ready for Waffles and maple syrup for New Year in USA. Was great for the dc, had the globe out, they made different flags for each of the countries we were celebrating with. Will probably do again this year. Also planning to go to panto, kids club at cinema.

[iklboo]

Afternoon tea somewhere posh-ish & local panto (not the ones in the big theatres but the smaller local venues). Love it!

[Clickityclack]

bunnies that sounds really fun may have to borrow that idea if it's ok with you

[3bunnies]

Of course clickertyclack where do you think I got the idea from in the first place! Google it on the web for more ideas. Will have to have another look at the times and choose new cities this year. Even us adults didn't stay up for new year as we had celebrated enough already. All three lasted until 10 pm, just (were 2, nearly 5 and nearly 7 at the time).

[ChristmasCountdown]

Christmas and Boxing Day are normally very busy for us, so it's nice to spend just a day or two at home - playing with new toys, board games etc and watching some Christmas movies (I normally get the Christmas radio times to see what's on and then record quite a few of the kids movies). This year we're also going to panto and I've booked DS in for some 'fun' swimming classes at our local leisure centre so he can burn off some energy.

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

Long walks, go to the rugby, theatre, snooze! Going to Japan this year, my bro lives there and it will be odd because although we are all celebrating Christmas, 25th December is in fact a school day for my nephews

[fuzzpig]

At some point in the holidays we will be getting a hamper of DVDs (not Christmassy ones) so I'm expecting lots of movie nights!

Also they are getting quite a few crafty kits as pressies so there will probably be lots of making things.

I'm probably back to work on 27th though :(

[megandraper]

Thanks for all replies.

Love the writing-New-Year-wishes in air with sparklers idea, racingheart! Am going to steal that.

Also love the time-zone celebration, bunnies. Especially good because there's no way we (adults included) can stay up till midnight at the moment (chronically sleep-deprived) - DSs are very interested in the world map, so that could be a great one.

[Ragwort]

Write thank you letters .

[megandraper]

Ha, Ragwort. Actually my DS1 LOVES writing thank you letters because he's just learning to write. Usually he's filled up the whole page after about 5 or 6 words, so there's just room for me to write a sentence on the end. Works quite well, really!

I just went on Amazon to find sparklers, and saw indoor fireworks - which i remember from my childhood. A new NYE tradition introduced now