New Year Traditions
OceanStars :: Thursday 1st January 2026 :: Latest Blog Posts
Welcome to Our 21st Year – Happy New Year 2026!
Ocean Stars Trust is now commencing its 21st year of operations, with an exciting year ahead filled with events and trips.
Our Year 2 preschool children will be moving on to Grade 1, while a new intake of little ones will begin their educational journey at an Ocean Stars Preschool-marking new beginnings for our children and communities.
As we step into this new chapter together, we wish you a very happy, healthy, and blessed New Year 2026.
May the stars shine for you and may all your dreams come true.
New year traditions
It is traditional in Sri Lanka at the beginning of the New Year to boil a pan of milk in a new pot. Over the flames of an open fire families will boil milk in a new earthen pot, allowing it to bubble over in a symbol of prosperity. After this, the traditional new year dish, Kiribath-a rice pudding of sorts-is prepared. A pot overflowing with milk, is considered sacred, signifies abundance and prosperity in the year ahead. Here is a recipe for Sri Lanka Milk Rice if you would like to begin your New Year Sri Lanka style!!
Milk Rice/ Kiri Bath
1. Place rice in a medium saucepan; add water to cover. Swirl rice to rinse, and drain. Repeat process twice, pouring off as much water as possible. Add 3 cups water and cardamom, if using, to rice; bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook until water is mostly absorbed, about 15 minutes.
2. Uncover rice; stir in coconut milk and salt. Cook over low, stirring often, until coconut milk is mostly absorbed, and mixture is creamy and thick, about 5 minutes. Discard cardamom. Transfer rice to a platter or baking sheet; top with a piece of parchment paper. Spread rice into a 1 1/2-inch-thick rectangle; use a spatula to flatten top. Let cool at room temperature until set, about 5 minutes. Remove parchment paper; cut rice into 3-inch squares or diamonds.
ENJOY!!
