As a little girl, for New Year’s Eve I would stay up late to watch New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Dick Clark. The energy of Time Square, waiting to ring in the next year, was infectious.
As I got older, and pajamas turned to evening dresses, the starry-eyed optimism remained. The moment the clock struck midnight, I would hug my friends close and sing Auld Lang Syne. We soaked in that perfect moment where the year was behind us and the future was bright.
My entire life I’ve participated in three different New Year celebrations: the Gregorian (Jan 1), the Islamic (Lunar), and the Bengali (April 14 or 15). I was actually born during the Bengali New Year celebration of 1982, Pahela Baishakh.
In each cultural New Year’s Eve celebration, there is one common thread: reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.
So as a fun activity for the family tomorrow, we are filling out “Celebrating The New Year” worksheets. I can’t wait to fill one out every year (until my teenage sons give me a hard pass).
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Celebrating-The-Year-With-IslamiMommy
Peace & Salam,
Natasha
Update December 31, 2025: It will be 8 years since I started sharing this worksheet with my kids. New Year’s Eve now looks like pajamas, game night, and lots of home cooking and baking. My 10-year-old and 11-year-old boys will be staying up until midnight for the first time! Alhamdullilah for the ordinairy.
