Creative New Year's Wishes in German

Friends celebrating New Years Eve
Uwe Krejci/The Image Bank/Getty Images

The German expression, "Frohes neues Jahr" literally translates to "Happy New Year." It is widely used in German-speaking countries, particularly in the northern and western states of Germany. Indeed, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are big holidays in Germany, with events ranging from fireworks to "Rummelpottlauf," where children (or adults) go from house to house singing silly songs and begging for sweets (or schnapps), to parties as well as special drinks and foods.

But if you have family or friends in Germany or German-speaking countries to whom you want to send New Year's greetings, you may find yourself struggling to find the right words. Sending such greetings can be challenging, especially if you want to get creative.

Creative New Year's Wishes

You may find yourself writing a card or even an email to a German friend or family member with New Year's wishes. But you likely want to avoid writing the same New Year's well-wishes year after year. Try some of the following more poetic and creative ways of wishing a happy New Year to a friend or loved one. In order to make the English greetings flow, some of the translations are not literal.

New Year's Wishes in German
German Phrase English Translation
Sonne, Mond und Sterne, alles liegt in weiter Ferne, doch das Gute das ist ganz nah – ein glückliches und schönes neues Jahr! Sun, moon and stars, everything lies at a great distance. However, goodness is just ‘round the corner – have a happy and lovely New Year!
Das alte Jahr ist jetzt bald futsch, drum wünsch ich dir einen guten Rutsch. Glück soll uns das neue Jahr gestalten und wir bleiben hoffentlich die alten! The New Year will soon be gone, and so I wish you a good year. May luck the New Year us bring and we the same old pals still be.
Es wackelt spät durch Nacht und Wind, ein Ferkelchen das lacht und singt. Es wünscht nur eines, das ist klar: Alles gute im neuen Jahr! Shaking through the darkness and the wind is a piglet which laughs and sings. It is clear to see, it is wishing one sole thing: All the best may the New Year bring!
Ich bin die kleine Silvestermaus, steh leider nicht vor deinem Haus. Drum schick ich dir aus weiter Ferne, eine Hand voll Zaubersterne. Alles Gute für 2011! I am the little New Year’s mouse, who unfortunately can’t be in front of your house. That’s why I’m sending you from afar, a handful of magic stars. All the best for 2011!
Heut’ an Silvester will ich dich grüßen – und Dir mit einem Kuss den Tag versüßen. Doch nicht nur heute denk ich an dich, das ganze Jahr bist Du der Sinn für mich. Today on New Year’s, I want to greet you and sweeten your day with a kiss. But today is not the only day that I’ll be thinking of you - you are to me the whole reason for being the whole year through.
Endlich ist das alte vorbei, das Neue kommt, ich bleib dabei. I wünsch dir ein frohes neues Jahr! Finally the old has passed, the new is coming and I’m standing by. Happy New Year!
Am Himmel leuchten die Sterne so klar, ich wünsch dir ein frohes Fest und ein gutes neues Jahr! The stars in the sky shine so clear, I wish you a happy celebration and a happy New Year!
Hab Dir bei der Zukunftsbank aufs Konto 2011, 365 Tage Liebe, Glück und süsse Träume einbezahlt. Viel Spass beim Ausgeben und einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! This is what I deposited in your 2011 bank account in the Bank of the Future: 365 days of love, luck and sweet dreams. Have fun doling them out and all the best for the New Year!
Lebe! Liebe! Lache! Auf diese Weise mache Dein neues Jahr zu einem Fest, das Dich Dein Leben feiern lässt. Live, love and laugh! In this way, you make your new year a celebration of your life.
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Bauer, Ingrid. "Creative New Year's Wishes in German." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/creative-new-year-wishes-in-german-1444647. Bauer, Ingrid. (2023, April 5). Creative New Year's Wishes in German. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/creative-new-year-wishes-in-german-1444647 Bauer, Ingrid. "Creative New Year's Wishes in German." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/creative-new-year-wishes-in-german-1444647 (accessed March 28, 2024).