Daily Archives: January 3, 2013

31/12 New Year’s Fireworks and Bonfire

As 00h got closer, the party stopped so that we could watch the beautiful fireworks that we prepared to welcome 2013 even more specially!

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!!!

At 23h59, we all stood in a circle and did a 10 seconds countdown until 2013 in Brazil! Before that, we had already celebrated New Year in each country along the day, with hugs and happy new year wishes in every language!

Then we all went to a special place to have a better view of the clear sky and soon the fireworks started! We had amazing 5 minutes of a colorful sky!

The kids then noticed a bonfire and we all ran that way! Everyone sat around it and we started our last activity of the day, and our first one of 2013!

We told the kids a story that we heard from the ancient inhabitants of the area that said that they used to make bonfires, just like ours, on New Year’s Eve and write their wishes for the year to come in little pieces of paper, just like we had done! After that, they stood in a circle around the bonfire and each one threw their wishes on it so that they would go up to the sky and become little starts. When they reached the sky, they would come true.

So each leader got the wishes from their kids, and one by one, threw the little pieces of paper into the bonfire so they would become starts in the sky and come true.

After all the wishes had gone to the sky, we started a new year’s lullaby by the bonfire with guitars and ukuleles. For our flag down, we said “Happy New Year!” in every language, instead of the usual goodnights.

Everyone went to bed very happy and with very positive energies to start an unforgettable 2013!

We now send you a little bit of all this energy and wish to all the parents, family and friends: have a great 2013!!

31/12 New Years’ Eve Party

After getting ready, the kids came to the dinning area and found an amazing party!! We had music, food, a table with delicious fruits, decoration and posts prepared by each delegation telling everyone how they usually celebrate New Year in their home countries.

Everyone danced a lot and enjoyed the last moments of 2012 with a lot of energy, fun and awesome dance moves! This is how all the excitement looked like:

31/12 Getting ready for New Years’ Eve

The BOX Village participants welcome 2013 in very special ways! The next posts will tell you everything about it!

We started by making an activity in which we said goodbye to 2012 by remembering it’s most special and happy moments! Then, we started to look into the future and into the new year by making a New Year Resolutions list and by preparing our own wishes for the year to come.

Then, we told everyone about the Brazilian traditions for New Year’s Eve. A very common one is to wear white, because we think that it is the color of peace, and by wearing it on the very first moments of 2013, we are wishing for a lot of peace for that year!

So, all the kids went to get ready! Here are the results 🙂 We are very happy and very positive about 2013, because with all this amazing kids wearing white and wishing for a peaceful New Year, we will surely have a great great one!

(Norway’s coming!!)