Happy New Year: greeting cards and greetings in different languages

New Year is one of the few truly international holidays. On New Year's Eve, congratulations are heard in hundreds of languages, and the traditions accompanying the holiday are striking in their diversity. You can congratulate friends or colleagues living abroad by sending a postcard in messengers or social networks. A selection of more than 30 colorful postcards with New Year's wishes in different languages of the world will help in this.

How to celebrate the New Year in the world

New Year's traditions are often accompanied by various rituals designed to bring happiness and well-being into the home. In Russia, for example, it is customary to write your wishes on pieces of paper, then burn them and pour the ashes into a glass of champagne. It is necessary to drink the contents under the chimes. Then, as it is believed, all the wishes will come true.

There is a similar tradition in Spain, only there, at every stroke of the clock at midnight, they eat a grape, making a wish for each month. In the Netherlands, matches are lit during the meal and placed in the fireplace. There is a belief that if the match burns out completely, then the year will be successful.

Italians symbolically get rid of the old by throwing away unnecessary things, and in Scotland they set fire to barrels of tar and roll them through the streets, "clearing" the way for the new year. Danes attract happiness by smashing dishes against doors. In Greece, stones are brought to the house, symbolizing well-being. They are also given to guests: large stones symbolize wealth, and small ones — the severity of possible problems in the new year.

In Cuba, it is customary to pour water over the threshold, thereby purifying yourself from all the bad things that happened in the past year. And in China, fireworks are traditionally set off to scare away evil spirits. Also, on the eve of the celebration, houses are carefully cleaned in order to "drive out" troubles and failures from the home. In India, homes are decorated with flowers and lights, reciting special prayers for prosperity.

Happy New Year greetings in different languages

Each culture has its own common New Year greetings. In Russia and many post-Soviet countries, they say "Happy New Year!" or "Happy New Year!" In the English—speaking world, the universal greeting is Happy New Year. In Germany, the expression Frohes Neues Jahr is used, and in Italy, Felice Anno Nuovo.

In France, it is traditional to wish a good year — Bonne année, or more specifically — Bonne et heureuse année, which literally means "a good and happy year." In Spain and many Latin American countries, congratulations sound like Feliz año nuevo and are written with two exclamation marks at the beginning and end of a sentence.

Italians congratulate each other with the phrase Felice Anno Nuovo. A wish for good holidays can be added to it — Buone feste. In Israel, they pronounce Shana Tova u'metuka, which means "Happy and sweet year!" There is also a short version of congratulations — Shana Tova, which means "Have a good year" in Hebrew.

In Arab countries, Happy New Year is celebrated with the help of different phrases. Local expressions may vary slightly depending on the country. For example, in Egypt they say, "Happy New Year!". And in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) happy New year sounds like كلُّ عامٍ وأَنتُم بأَلفِ خيرٍ (the Kullu 'am WA antum bi Alf Jairo).

However, it is worth considering that in many Islamic countries the New Year is celebrated not on December 31, but on the first day of the month of Muharram, which falls on different dates of the lunar calendar every year. At the same time, the change of year is not considered a holiday in our usual sense. On this day, believers pray in mosques and preach a sermon on Hijrah.

In 2025, the first day of Muharram fell on June 26 according to the Gregorian calendar, in 2026 it will also be celebrated in summer, believers will celebrate the year 1448. Meanwhile, in a number of countries, Muslims willingly wish their loved ones a Happy New Year and accept congratulations, thereby maintaining a balance between secular and religious traditions.

The Jewish holiday is called Rosh Hashanah (literally— "the head of the year"), better known as the Jewish New Year. It occurs annually in the autumn months, September or October. This is a religious event that is not related to a secular holiday. Although some Jews, especially those from the former Soviet Union, celebrate both celebrations.

To make a special greeting for a friend, colleague, or relative living abroad, you can add a detailed wish in your native language. Below are some examples of New Year greetings in different languages.

Happy New Year Greetings in English

Best wishes for a pleasant and successful New Year to you and your family! I wish you magical moments, wonderful memories and good cheer! Happy New Year!

("Best wishes for a pleasant and successful New Year to you and your family! I wish you magical moments, wonderful memories and a good mood! Happy New Year!")

«I wish you a Happy New Year! May the spirit of the season fill your heart with joy, peace and love. May all your wishes come true!»

("I wish you a Happy New Year! May the spirit of the holiday fill your heart with joy, peace and love. May all your wishes come true!")

Happy New Year greetings in French

Bonne année! Je vous prie d`accepter mes félicitations les plus sincères! Meilleurs vœux de joie, santé, bonheur pour la nouvelle année!

("Happy New Year! Please accept my most sincere congratulations! I wish you joy, health and happiness in the new year!")

À toute la famille, je souhaite une année remplie d'amour, de joie et de moments précieux ensemble. Bonne année!

("I wish your whole family a year full of love, joy and precious moments together. Happy New Year!")

Happy New Year greetings in German

Frohes Neues Jahr! Möge das neue Jahr die Freude, Glück und Gesundheit bringen!

("Happy New Year! May the new year bring joy, happiness and health!")

Die besten Wünsche für ein glückliches neues Jahr! Möge das Jahr 2026 ein erfolgreiches und glückliches Jahr werden!

("Best wishes in the New Year! May 2026 be a successful and happy year!")

Happy New Year Greetings in Spanish

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Que en este Nuevo Año se cumplan todos los deseos. ¡Felicidad para ti y los tuyos!

("Happy New Year! May all your wishes come true this year! Happiness to you and your loved ones!")

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! ¡Muchas felicidades, paz y prosperidad en el Año Nuevo!

("Happy New Year! I wish you a lot of happiness, peace and prosperity in the new year!")

Happy New Year Greetings in Chinese

新年快樂！祝您财运亨通，多福多寿！愿节日的愉快伴您一生！

("Happy New Year! I wish you good luck, happiness and longevity! May the feeling of celebration accompany you all your life!")

新年快乐！祝您健康长寿! 心想事成！

("Happy New Year! I wish you good health and longevity! May all your wishes come true!")

Happy New Year Greetings in Turkish

Yeni yılınız kutlu olsun! Yeni yılda en güzel hayallerinin gerçekleşmesini dilerim. Size ve ailenize mutlu bayramlar dilerim!

("Happy New Year! I wish you the fulfillment of all your wishes in the new year. Happy holidays to you and your family!")

Mutlu Yıllar! Yeni yılın iş hayatınıza başarı getirmesini dilerim! 2026’in şirketinize refah ve büyüme getirmesini temenni ederim!

("Happy New Year! I wish you success in your professional life in the new year! May 2026 bring prosperity and growth to your company!")

Greetings for residents of Russia and CIS countries

Happy New Year greetings in Tatar

"I ate bulsyn cauldrons! Yana el bakhet-shatlyk, unyshlar alyp kilsen"

("Happy New Year! May the New Year bring you happiness, joy and success!")

"Yana el belen kotlaular Kabul and itep alygyz! Yana ate bareme mathur bulyp utsen! Aldagi or-yana el bars bakhet-kuanichlar gyn alyp kilsen!"

("Congratulations on the New Year! May the New Year holidays be wonderful! May the coming New Year bring only happiness and joy!")

Happy New Year greetings in Belarusian

"Happy New Year 2026 to Narajennem Khrystov! Pazhadat dabrabytu i pospehay u dasyagnennih our pasty mat!"

("Happy New Year 2026 and Merry Christmas! I wish you prosperity and success in achieving all your goals!")

"Vos i come yashche adzin, poiny nadzey, new year! Nay, Seleta, you are welcome, all our chakanni, all our overseers, all our marys! Let's get the year of the buddha for you!"

("A new year is coming, full of hope! May all our expectations, all our hopes, all our dreams come true this year! May this year be a happy one for everyone!")

Happy New Year greetings in Ukrainian

"I feel like a new rock! I wish you'd let me try. Have a nice day, give me some surprises and some wonderful joys!"

("Happy New Year! I wish him to bring everything he dreams of. May every day bring pleasant surprises and unexpected joys!")

"In the time of love, if the snow falls And the frost falls, bring a new peak to the ground! I cordially congratulate you. Hi, I'll bring you a nice drink. That's right now!"

("At this time, when the snow is falling and the frosts are getting stronger, the New Year is rushing to earth! I cordially congratulate you on it. May the coming year bring you only joy and happiness!")

Happy New Year greetings in Kazakh

"Zhana zhyl kutty bolsyn! Otbasyzga bakyt, densaulyk, amandyk tileimin! Alga koigan barlyk tilekteriniz oryndalsyn!"

("Happy New Year! I wish your family happiness, health, and well-being! May all your wishes come true!").

"Zhana zhyldarynyzben! Keller zhyl kuanyshka, sattilikke, zhana mumkindikterge toly bolsyn!"

("May the coming year be full of joy, good luck and new opportunities!")

Happy New Year greetings in Georgian

გილოცავ ახალ წელს! მშვიდობის, ჯანმრთელობის და სიხარულის მომტანი ყოფილიყოს ახალი 2026 წელი!

("Happy New Year! May the New Year 2026 bring peace, health and joy!")

ახალი 2026 წელი შემობრძანდა. გილოცავთ ამ დღესასწაულს, დაე, ყოფილიყოს სიმშვიდის, წარმატების, წინსვლისა და სიხარულის მომტანი!

("The new year 2026 has arrived. Congratulations on this holiday! May he bring peace, success and progress!")

The postcard can be sent via social networks or messengers — Max, Telegram, Viber or WhatsApp (owned by Meta, recognized as extremist and banned in Russia). Such a greeting instantly overcomes any distance and creates a festive mood, connecting people all over the world.

The postcards and greetings were prepared by Izvestia using artificial intelligence.