Happy New Year 2026 🍾🥂

Simon O'Donovan
Dec 30, 2025
9 min read

"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written." – Melody Beattie.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." – Albert Einstein.

Here are some ideas for your first CST group of 2025.

Introduction

Wish everyone a Happy New Year and ask how their holidays went?

- Did anyone have any visitors staying, or did they visit or stay with family or friends?

- What were their best Christmas presents? Did anyone have any nice surprises?

- Are there any presents to 'regift'?

- Does anyone not celebrate Christmas? What is their festive occasion?

- How did members see in the New Year? Did anyone drink champagne and count down the seconds to Big Ben chiming in 2020?

- Did anyone watch Jools Holland 'Annual Hootenany' or see the 'Fireworks on the Thames'?

- What is the most enjoyable thing about New Year's Eve or New Year's Day? A

Ask members if they have made any New Year's resolutions (things they would like to do more or less of)?

As we start a new year, what is the single biggest change you or others could make that would make the world a better place to live in?

Round 1. Idioms

Ask members to have a guess at what these well known sayings are from the cryptic clues provided in the AI generated photos ...

Answers:

A new broom, sweeps clean

Turn over a new leaf

Out with the old, in with the new

Time flies

Wipe the slate clean

Start as you mean to go on

A clean bill of health

Only time will tell

Put your best foot forward

The world is your oyster

Break new ground

Ring in the new

Get the ball rolling

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

Rise the roof

Start from scratch

Round 2. Traditions & Superstitions

Ask members to describe what is going on in these New Year celebrations pictures ...

Has anyone taken part in these events?

Answers:

Counting down - 'Big Ben' (the 'Elizabeth Tower') chiming in the new year and fireworks on the Thames

First Footing - A Celtic tradition whereby a dark haired man knocks on the door at midnight and brings in coal (warmth), money (good fortune), bread (sustenance), salt (properity )and whisky (cheer).

Hogmanay - A Scottish tradition of celebrating New Year with 'First Footing', fire festivals, torchlight processions and singing and dancing to 'Auld Langs Syne'.

Ceilidh - A traditional Scottish or Irish social gathering featuring folk music, singing, and dancing, derived from Gaelic words meaning "visit" or "gathering".

New Year's Day Swim - At Lyme Regis and in many places across the UK.

Champagne & Kissing - At midnight it is tradition to kiss and toast in the New Year with champagne.

Wassailing - An ancient English tradition, originating from Anglo-Saxon "Waes Hael" (be healthy), that involves blessing orchards for a good harvest through singing, drinking spiced cider, and making loud noises to scare away evil spirits, typically around 'Twelfth Night' (Jan 5).

Mummers Day - Padstow's 'Mummers Day' is a lively, centuries-old Cornish folklore tradition on Boxing Day and New Year's Day, featuring costumed singers with coaled faces and musicians parading through town, visiting homes and pubs with drums, accordions, and traditional songs, linked to ancient fertility rites, minstrel songs and Cornish heritage.

Auld Langs Syne - 'Auld Lang Syne' is an extremely nostalgic and sincere expression of friendship. It is for this reason that people all over the world sing this song at New Year. The words are of course written by Robert Burns.

You could play that song now (a gentler version), or save it for later (a party version is provided at the end) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCzvxy5JBDQ

Round 3. General Knowledge Quiz

Which capital city is the first to see in the New Year?

How does the children's rhyme "Pinch punch, first of the month ..." go?

How does the children's rhyme "Thirty days hath September ..." go?

In which city does the 'Ball Drop' happen at midnight?

What are 'Veganuary', 'Red January' and 'Dry January'?

What is the Welsh translation of 'Happy New Year'?

When was the Queen's "Annus Horribilis" and why was it so called?

What name was given to the predicted computer meltdown at the beginning of the year 2000?

What are the 12 animals of the Chinese calendar?

What are the 12 signs of the zodiac?

Answers:

Wellington, New Zealand

"Pinch punch first of the month, and no returns. A flick and a kick for being so quick, and no returns."

"Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; All the rest have thirty-one, Save February alone, Which hath twenty-eight, clear, and twenty-nine in each leap year"

Times Square, New York

'Veganuary' - Going vegan (no meat or dairy); 'Red January' - Exercise every day; 'Dry January' - Give up alcohol

'Blywddyn Newydd Dda'

1992 - Charles and Diana spilt, Andrew and Fergie split and Windsor Castle caught fire

'Millennium Bug' - fear that two digit systems could read 2000 as 1900 and computer systems would collapse

Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (or Sheep), Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig

Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

Ask members to name these capital cities pictured at New Year ...

Answers:

'Christ The Redeemer', Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

'Syndey Opera House', Sydney, Australia

'Brandenburg Gate', Berlin, Germany

'St Basil's Basilica', Red Square, Moscow, Russia

'Eiffel Tower', Paris, France

'Tiananmen Square', Beijing, China

'Great Pyramids', Giza, Egypt

'Cichen Itza', Mexico

'Statue Of Liberty', New York

'Tower Bridge', London

There is no 'Year Of The Cat', so Al Stewart wrote this song to make up for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UuD3wUcRUY&list=RD3UuD3wUcRUY&start_radio=1

Round 4. Millennium Projects

Ask members to name these Millennium projects and their whereabouts ...

Which of these have members visited?

Top Tier - National Icons, Highest Footfall

'London Eye'

'Eden', Cornwall

'The Millennium Dome' ('O2 Arena')

'The Millennium Stadium', Cardiff ('Principality Stadium')

'The Millennium Centre', Cardiff

Second Tier - Major Cultural & Tourist Attractions

'The Lowry', Salford Quays

'National Botanic Garden Of Wales', Camarthenshire

'Millennium Bridge' & 'Tate Modern', London

'Spinnaker Tower', Portsmouth

'The Deep', Hull

Third Tier - Strong Regional Icons

'Angel Of The North', Gateshead

'Falkirk Wheel'

'Gateshead Millennium Bridge'

'Sheffield Winter Garden'

'Odyssey Centre', Belfast

'Our Dynamic Earth', Edinburgh

'Glasgow Science Centre'

How many beacons were lit to celebrate the new century?

4,000+

SONG. 'Millennium', Robbie Williams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcWOviMI6Lk

This song borrows heavily from which James Bond movie theme music?

Here it is - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs8uYxTJ530

Round 5. TV & Movies

Ask members to name these movies & TV shows which are set at New Year.

Some clues are provided below ...

Clues:

1957 romance starring Cary Grant & Deborah Kerr / "Winter must be cold for those with no warm memories. We've already missed the Spring."

1960 romcom starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacClaine / "I used to live like Robinson Crusoe; I mean, shipwrecked among 8 million people. And then one day I saw a footprint in the sand, and there you were."

1972 disaster movie starring Gene Hackman & Shelley Winters / "Through the kitchens and go deeper and deeper in the ship till we reach the hull. That way!"

1989 romcom starring Billy Crystal & Meg Ryan / "I'll have what she's having."

1999 romcom starring Julia Roberts & Hugh Grant / "I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her."

2001 rom com starring Renee Zellweger & Colin Firth / "It is a truth universally acknowledged that when one part of your life starts going okay, another falls spectacularly to pieces."

Jools Holland

"The One With The Routine"

Answers:

'An Affair To Remember'

'The Apartment'

'The Poseidon Adventure'

'When Harry Met Sally'

'Notting Hill'

'Bridget Jones's Diary'

'Hootenanny'

'Friends'

Here is Monica & Ross's 'Routine' ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sloNIeO0Em4

Round 6. Top 10 News Stories 2025

Ask members to comment on these news stories ...

Kier Starmer's new Labour government begins to make changes, not always to the immediate benefit of the people, many of whom remain in relative poverty.

Have your bills gone up? Do you see light at the end of the tunnel?

NHS investment and improvements begin to impact, with waiting list times reducing and more GP appointments available.

Can you see the NHS improving? What has your experience been like?

Donald Trump's second state visit to meet King Charles at Windsor Castle.

What do you think of Donald Trump? How does King Charles compare to Queen Elizabeth?

'Great British Railways' takes off, with 'South Western Railways' and 'Anglia Railways' taken back into public ownership so far.

What do you think about re-nationalisation of the railways? Which services should be next?

President Zelensky was humiliated by Donald Trump and JD Vance at the Whitehouse, with Trump accusing him of starting the Russia Ukraine war! Peace talks have so far failed.

What do you think of President Zelensky? Do you think Trump is a Russian stooge?

Netanyahu continues to oversee the destruction of Gaza, with more than 70,000 Palestinians dead, including 20,000 children.

What to say, other than one hopes the war criminal will see his comeuppance this year.

Labour government changes immigration policy, working with the French and other governments to see more swift returns of asylum seekers with no right to remain. 36,000 have been returned in 2025.

Do you think immigration policy is strict enough? How can we stop people dying crossing the channel?

Pope Leo was pontificated after the death of Pope Francis in the Sistine Chapel Vatican City.

Do you think the Pope is as powerful a figure as he used to be? Will this Pope change the Catholic church for the better?

England's 'Red Roses' win the Rugby World Cup, seeing similar success to the football 'Lionesses'.

What can the men's games learn from women's success in what were previously their male dominated sports?

Alan Carr won 'Celebrity Traitors', winning BBC an audience of 15 million.

What TV shows and movies have you enjoyed this year?

Round 7. Gone But Not Forgotten

We have sadly lost many significant people who contributed greatly to our lives, in world leadership, the arts, sports and music. Here are just a few of those who passed in 2025.

Pope Francis - the first head of the Catholic Church from South America.

Gene Hackman - 'Best Actor' Oscars for 'Mississippi Burning' & 'The French Connection'.

Jilly Cooper - author best known for her long-running 'Rutshire Chronicles' series.

Ozzy Osbourne - Lead singer with the band 'Black Sabbath'.

Diane Keaton - 'Best Actress' Oscar for 'Annie Hall'

Robert Redford - 'Best Director' Oscar for 'Ordinary People' and 'Honorary Award For Lifetime Achievement'

Dame Prunella Scales - unforgettable as Sybil Fawlty in 'Fawlty Towers'

George Foreman - two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. He is the namesake of the 'George Foreman Grill'.

Dame Jane Goodall - regarded as "the world's preeminent chimpanzee expert"

Val Kilmer - Actor whose best work included 'The Doors' and 'Batman Forever'.

Others pictured include:

D'angelo - singer-songwriter

Ricky Hatton - boxing promoter and trainer

Diojo Jota - Portuguese footballer

Hulk Hogan - wrestler

Also ...

Pauline Collins - 'Best Actress' BAFTA Award for 'Shirley Valentine'

Dame Joan Plowright - 'Best Actress' Golden Globe Award for 'Enchanted April'

Chris Rea - major hits with 'Road To Hell' & 'Driving Home For Christmas'

Dame Patricia Routledge - best known for her iconic role as Hyacinth Bucket in 'Keeping Up Appearances'

Brian Wilson - Lead singer-songwriter with 'The Beach Boys'. UK number 1 hits were "Good Vibrations" and "Do It Again"

Brigitte Bardot - French actress and cultural icon, later known for her animal rights activism.

Roberta Flack - hits included "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song"

Round 8. New Years Honours List

Actor Idris Elba, ice dancers Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, as well as England's victorious women's football and rugby teams, are among 1,157 people recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Sir Idris, 53, who is known for his roles in The Wire and Luther, is knighted for services to young people, having founded the Elba Hope Foundation.

Dame Jayne and Sir Christopher, who took home the Olympic gold at the 1984 Winter Games and saw success at the World, European and British Champions, are made a Dame and Sir for services to ice skating and to voluntary service.

They are joined by Paul Elliott, one half of the Chuckle Brothers, who is made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), and Matt Lucas, who becomes an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Three-time London Marathon winner Paula Radcliffe, who held the women's marathon record for 16 years, is made an OBE. Also made OBEs are presenter and author Richard Osman, actor Warwick Davis and broadcaster Gabby Logan. The Kumars At No 42 actress Meera Syal, 64, becomes a Dame.

Practical Activity

Make a 'New Year's Resolutions Tree', by providing a clean or bleached branch secured in a pot of pebbles and having members make different shaped card shapes and string decorations to write their New Year's Resolutions on.

Have some sparkling wine ready to hand to toast in the new year & dance together with arms interlocked to Auld Langs Syne.