Families have to be creative when it comes to celebrating New Year's. After all, it can be hard to incorporate kids into a late-night party that centers around champagne. But, as we discovered when we asked readers how they mark the changing of the calendar, this holiday can be about a whole lot more than a countdown and confetti.

We were inspired by all of the ideas we heard for taking stock of the past 12 months, planning for the next 12, and just plain having fun with family and friends. In the pages ahead, we share our favorites: 11 unique, festive, and heartwarming traditions.