What makes celebrating the new year special? It’s filled with hopes, dreams, and even something new that you’ll be looking forward to having, right? When it comes to resolutions, you should try learning a new language!
Since the new year is always almost around the corner, wouldn’t you like to learn some words in Slovenian that you can use to wish your friends? In today’s post, we will walk you through all the essential words and phrases you need to know to wish someone a happy new year or srečno novo leto in Slovenian like a real native!
Table of Contents
Celebrating A Happy New Year In Slovenian
In Slovenia, the new year’s eve or silvestrovo, is celebrated on December 31st. You see, Slovenia follows the Gregorian calendar, like many other countries around the world. Slovenians celebrate this day to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new year with hope and joy. Some people like to celebrate at home with their families and friends, while others like to go outside, enjoy the fireworks and some even travel abroad to celebrate it in a different country.
Celebrating New Year In Different Parts Of Slovenia
When the new year approaches, no part of Slovenia remains silent. In each corner of the country, people start preparing for New Year’s Eve ahead of time. Slovenia is a small country, and therefore people feel connected to each other. Usually, the locals come to the city square, and there are instances wherein roads are closed since it is turned into a big party place.
People love wishing each other a happy new year in Slovenian while sharing a glass of champagne. Family tables become decorated with traditional Slovenian food and drinks. Here is a list of the main cities where crowds gather to with eachother happiness:
- Ljubljana
- Maribor
- Bled
- Piran
- Novo Mesto
Celebrations In Ljubljana
Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, is the main attraction for all Slovenians and tourists to celebrate new year’s eve. There is twinkling lights, fireworks and people singing all around.
On Ljubljana Castle Hill, fireworks displays are to be expected. The crowds are eager to see these spectacular parades of lights with their family and close friends. A countdown begins some seconds before midnight, and everyone counts loudly. Such a sight is magnificent for everyone to watch. Even today, Ljubljana Castle holds great importance for the Slovenian people since it holds great historical significance to their ancestors.
Celebrations In Maribor
Maribor is a well-visited site in Slovenia. People in the squares come out on the street and start celebrating New Year’s Eve. In the main square of Maribor, there are countless gift markets where people buy and pack holiday gifts for their loved ones.
There are different setups in Slovenia to celebrate New Year’s Eve. In the winter park of Maribor, a magical garden is set up for visitors who wish to get a glimpse of how things are in Slovenia. They are shown a variety of shows, e.g., playing with fire, having neon lights, fairy lights, etc. Lumina is the most prominent setup in the winter park in Maribor.
Celebrations In Lake Bled
Lake Bled is yet another great site of attraction for the Slovenian people. It’s a place where nature offers beautiful places to visitors. A walk near the lake is something that most tourists and Slovenian people do on New Year’s Eve. The entire area is adorned with beautiful colors, reflected in the lake, making it a splendid sight.
There is also an ice skating rink, which most people try. Kids love to go to the ice skating rink on New Year’s Eve and have the time of their lives. Parents love to walk silently and look at the young kids and new couples who are using this time as an opportunity to bond better with their lovers.
Many people started their walks with lake Bled and went as far as Castle Hill while looking at the valley and Karavanke Mountains.
Celebrations In Piran
Piran is yet another tiny town in Slovenia with historical significance and a romantic vibe. It is also an excellent site for visitors and tourists to spend a holiday on New Year’s Eve. Most of the people gather to see the fireworks at night on Tartini’s Square. There are different magical celebration festivities in Piran. Restaurants offer discounts and special offers to the visitors like getting a table with the magical view of Punta.
Celebrations In Novo Mesto
The renowned city of Slovenia, Novo Mesto, is especially famous for its unique celebrations of New Year. The New Year’s carnival is one of the old traditions of Novo Mesto. There are different holiday programs, and the city starts preparing for them almost a month before New Year’s Eve. The carnival starts a few weeks before the main day, and everyone is seen in glittery and fancy suits and masks. The people love this time of the year since they get to celebrate and party together outside on the main streets of the city.
Celebrating With Schnapps And Champagne
Slovenian people are fond of an alcoholic beverage called schnapps. Schnapps is called žganje in Slovenian. In the past, there was a trend of making schnapps at home, and almost all the Slovenian people knew how to make them. This trend has changed, and schnapps is not that widely prepared at home. However, people still love it as much as they did in the past.
It is a strong liquor, and the people who cannot take it well are called featherweight. There are different local and national competitions about who can make the best schnapps. The people enjoy such competitions at various festivals, including Christmas and New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Eve, many people make schnapps at their homes, and almost all the people share schnapps and love to cheer.
Plums are the main ingredients of schnapps, so if you don’t like plums, you would have to bear with the drink. Slovenian people are addicted to making and using these drinks, especially at their festivals. Also, brace yourself before trying schnapps because it’s much more than your average liquor.
Nowadays, a popular drink, besides wine and schnapps, is also champagne. Slovenians traditionally pop the bottle just as the hour strikes midnight!
Slovenian New Year’s Resolutions
When New Year’s Eve approaches, one thing that we all love to do is make New Year’s resolutions. I make a New Year’s resolution each year just to forget about it after a week or so, and I am sure many of you can relate.
Since we are on the topic of how to wish a happy new year in Slovenian, it is essential to learn how to make new year’s resolutions. The Slovenian word for New year’s resolutions is novoletna zaobljuba. It can be translated as New Year’s pledge.
How To Make New Year’s Resolutions?
One way of talking about the New Year’s resolutions is using nameravam. Its translation is “I plan to.” Resolution means making plans, which is why this phrase especially comes in handy. You can use this phrase with any plan, making perfect sense. Make sure that you also plan accordingly with Slovenian time.
If you want to be specific, you can use the word letos, meaning this year. Here are some of the easiest ways of using it:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| I plan to write a book this year. | Letos nameravam napisati knjigo. |
| I plan to learn baking this year. | Letos se nameravam naučiti peke. |
| I plan to visit the museum this year. | Letos nameravam obiskati muzej. |
| I plan to paint the walls this year. | Letos nameravam prepleskati stene. |
| I plan to study harder this year. | Letos se nameravam več učiti. |
| I plan to work out more this year. | Letos nameravam več telovaditi. |
| I plan to shop less this year. | Letos nameravam manj nakupovati. |
How Do You Say Happy New Year In Slovenian?
The phrase to wish a happy new year in Slovenian is srečno novo leto.
Here is a small break down of the phrase to see how each word can be used in the Slovenian language:
Srečno
The word srečno literally means good luck in Slovenian. The word for luck in Slovenian is sreča. This word is the root word for the other related words. For instance, the word that implies feelings of happiness in Slovenian is srečen or srečna.
Here are more ways of using words related to srečno with its different forms in Slovenian:
| English Sentence | Slovenian Sentence |
|---|---|
| Live happily ever after. | Živeti srečno do konca svojih dni. |
| To be born under a lucky star. | Biti rojen pod srečno zvezdo. |
| Finding happiness. | Najti srečo. |
| Happy ending. | Srečen konec. |
| Bon Voyage! | Srečno pot! |
Novo
The word novo in Slovenian means new. There are different words related to the word novo and here are a few examples:
| English Sentence | Slovenian Sentence |
|---|---|
| I need to visit new places in Slovenia. | Moram obiskati nove kraje v Sloveniji. |
| I just got a new job. | Pravkar sem dobil novo službo. |
| I do not need new things. | Ne potrebujem novih stvari. |
Leto
The Slovenian word for the year is leto. Here is a table for you to learn some words related to leto in Slovenian:
| English Translation | Slovenian Words |
|---|---|
| This year | To leto |
| Next year | Naslednje leto |
| Last year | Lansko leto |
| Every year | Vsako leto |
| Once a year | Enkrat na leto |
| Leap year | Prestopno leto |
We’ve broken down the phrase srečno novo leto, helping make sure you truly understand it. Want even more examples of phrases you can use related to the new year? We’ve got you covered as well! If you’re worried that you won’t remember all of these Slovenian phrases right away, think about using Ling app to make your learning easier. There you’ll have language learning lessons like reading, writing, speaking, and listening to help you remember more quickly.
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| New year is a new beginning | Novo leto je nov začetek. |
| Where are you going to celebrate the new year? | Kje boš praznoval/a novo leto? |
| This new year I will follow my resolutions. | V novem letu bom sledil/a svojim zaobljubam. |
| I spend the new year with my family. | Novo leto preživim s svojo družino. |
| I celebrate the new year with my friends. | Novo leto praznujem s svojimi prijatelji. |
Other Vocabulary Related To The New Year In Slovenia
If you’re planning to celebrate the New Year in Slovenian this year, then it’s best to come prepared with some basic Slovenian vocabulary, that you might hear at parties and celebrations. Here’s a list of easy ones:
| English | Slovenian |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Koledar |
| Clock | Ura |
| Celebration | Praznovanje |
| Celebrate | Praznovati |
| Day | Dan |
| Firecrackers | Petarde |
| Fireworks | Ognjemet |
| Countdown | Odštevanje |
| Cheers | Na Zdravje |
| Invitation | Povabilo |
| December | December |
| January | Januar |
| Memories | Spomini |
| Party | Zabava |
| Holiday | Počitnice |
| Tradition | Tradicija |
| Midnight | Polnoč |
| New Year’s Eve | Novoletni Večer |
Most Commonly Asked Questions About The Slovenian New Year
What Is Slovenia Like In December?
In December, Slovenia feels chilly but cozy. Streets become all lit up with Christmas lights. You can enjoy Christmas markets, filled with handmade things and tasty treats, such as hot mulled wine. Walking through Slovenian cities may seem like a winter wonderland. It’s a great time to come and enjoy some winter sports as well.
How Do Slovenian Celebrate New Year?
Slovenian celebrate the new year with a mix of traditions. Quite common are family gatherings, where loved ones come together to enjoy a meal and share stories from the past year. Many people love to go out for public celebrations in town squares or city centers. There are usually concerts, firework displays and street parties. After the stroke of midnight, the celebrations continue well into the early hours of the morning, with dancing, music, and merrymaking. It’s a time of joy and optimism, as Slovenians look forward to the opportunities and adventures that the New Year will bring.
What Are The Official Holidays In Slovenia On January 1st And 2nd?
After the festivities of the New Year are over, Slovenians enjoy a New Year Holiday, taking two extra days off work to recover and reflect.
Ready To Celebrate The New Year In Slovenia?
As you prepare to celebrate the New Year in Slovenia, armed with phrases to wish your friends and a glimpse into local traditions, you’re all set for a memorable experience. So, get ready to ring in the New Year with joy, laughter, and perhaps a glass of schnapps or champagne, as you create cherished memories in this enchanting European destination. Don’t forget to learn Slovenian numbers for the countdown and Srečno novo leto!
