These New Years charades follow the night and the morning after: the countdown, party hats and noisemakers, customs from other countries, resolutions and New Year's Day. The 50 cards run from Confetti to Breaking a resolution on January 2.
Read the full guide
Play until the ball drops
Start a round about half an hour before midnight and let teams take turns. Save The countdown to midnight for last: Watching the clock tick and Shouting Happy New Year land best with the real clock close.
The New Years charades word list
The full list sits under the tool by topic, with an acting hint under each card. Customs around the world holds nine from other countries, such as Banging pots and pans and Walking around the block with a suitcase.
Tips
Twelve grapes, one for each chime is Spain's midnight custom: pop an imaginary grape on every bong.
Questions and answers
What are good New Year's charades for a family party?
Easy cards everyone knows: Countdown, Party hat, Confetti, Fireworks and Staying up late. Give the Hard cards, such as Falling asleep before midnight and Polar bear plunge, to older players. No card involves a drink.
Where do the New Year's customs on the cards come from?
From Wikipedia's article on New Year's Eve: twelve grapes at midnight in Spain, lentils for luck in Italy and Chile, a walk with a suitcase in Chile for a year of travel, and banging pots and pans in the Philippines.
Can I print the New Year's charades cards?
Yes. When a round ends, press Print these for slips to cut apart and drop in a party hat. All 50 print on one press, or pick one topic, such as Resolutions, to print fewer.
Ball dropLower a fist slowly down an invisible pole.
CountdownHold up ten fingers and fold them down one by one.
Counting down from the wrong numberStart counting, stop, look at everyone, start again.
Falling asleep before midnightNod off on the couch, jerk awake, nod off again.
FireworksShoot a hand up, spread your fingers, look up and gasp.
MidnightPoint at a clock, both hands straight up.
Missing midnight in the bathroom lineWait, hear a cheer, throw up your hands.
Shouting Happy New YearCount down on your fingers, throw both arms up, mouth it wide.
Staying up lateProp your eyelids open with two fingers.
Waking a sleeping kid at midnight to watchGently shake a shoulder, point at the window, whisper.
Watching the clock tickStare at your wrist, tap it, stare again.
Show all 50 New Year's charades ideas (39 more)
Party hats and noisemakers 11
Blowing up balloonsPuff, puff, then pinch the end and tie it.
ConfettiThrow a handful up and let it fall on your head.
Dancing in a paper crownBop, then catch the crown as it slides off.
NoisemakerBlow a horn that unrolls, cheeks puffed.
Party hatPut a cone on your head and snap the elastic under your chin.
Party popperPull a string at arm's length and flinch.
Popping a balloon by sitting on itBounce down on a seat, jump up at the bang.
SparklersWave one hand in circles and write in the air.
StreamersToss a roll across the room and watch it unwind.
Sweeping up confettiSweep, then find more in your hair and your shoe.
Tangled in streamersSpin, get wrapped, try to walk with your arms stuck.
Customs around the world 9
Banging pots and pansBash two pans together over your head.
Blowing a paper horn in the streetMarch and toot, bumping into other people.
Eating lentils for luckSpoon from a bowl, count the lentils like coins.
Jumping at midnightCrouch, wait, spring as high as you can.
Lighting a paper lanternCup a lantern, light it, let it rise, watch it go.
Scattering coins at midnightToss coins across the floor with a flourish.
Street party with fireworksDance in a crowd, point up, cover your ears.
Twelve grapes, one for each chimePop a grape in at every chime, cheeks getting fuller.
Walking around the block with a suitcasePull a rolling case, look back, wave at the neighbors.
Resolutions 10
Breaking a resolution on January 2Look both ways, sneak a cookie, look guilty.
Eating more vegetablesHold up a carrot, sigh, crunch.
Going to the gymSwing your arms, march on the spot, wipe your brow.
Keeping your room tidyFold, stack, then stare at the mess and slump.
Learning a new instrumentBlow into a pretend recorder, wince at the sound.
Making a resolutionRaise one hand as if taking a promise.
Reading more booksOpen a book, turn pages fast, stack another on top.
Running your first mile of the yearJog, slow, hold your side, keep going.
Trying to get up earlyAlarm rings, hit snooze, fall back, alarm rings again.
Writing a to-do listWrite, tick, write, write, write.
New Year's Day 9
Cleaning up after the partyPick up cups with a groan and a yawn.
First snow of the new yearPull back the curtain, gasp, run for boots.
Opening a brand-new plannerCrack the spine, smell the pages, write one careful word.
Pancake brunchFlip, catch, stack, pour syrup.
Polar bear plungeRun in, freeze, run straight back out shivering.
Sleeping inPull the covers over your head and wave the day away.
Taking down the calendarUnhook an old calendar and hang a new one.
Watching the parade on TVSit on the couch, wave at the screen.
Writing the wrong yearWrite a date, stop, cross it out, write again.
How this list was compiled: Every card is something a person can act without props or speech around December 31 and January 1: the countdown, the party things, customs from other countries, resolutions and New Year's Day. The customs follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve, read 2026-09-23: fireworks at midnight in many countries; the ball drop at Times Square in New York, held since 1907, where an illuminated ball is lowered down a pole; in the Philippines, jumping at midnight, scattering coins and banging on pots and pans; in Spain and communities with ties to it, twelve grapes at midnight, one for each chime; lentils for luck in Italy and Chile; in Chile, walking the streets with a suitcase for those who want to travel; Hogmanay street parties and fireworks in Scotland. Resolutions follow https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_resolution, read 2026-09-23, which names weight loss and exercise programs among common ones. The deck keeps to the site's family-safe rule: no alcohol (nobody toasts with a drink), nothing sexual, no real people and no song or show titles. Difficulty is an editor's judgment: Easy is one thing a room names at once, Medium two or three beats, Hard a small scene with a turn. The line under each card is the editors' acting hint, not a rule. Overlap with the rest of this site was counted on 2026-09-23 with a leading a, an or the dropped: no card has the same text as a card in another charades deck here, and no list on the site shares more than 3 of the 50 (birthday bingo: Confetti, Party hat and Streamers). Licence: own work