New Year party entertainment for Novy God and the Jewish holidays

For New Year party entertainment in Israel, December 31 is the big night. It’s Novy God, the Russian New Year, and the season of company year-end parties. Onelli brings live vocals in three languages, a DJ, dancers and a countdown with confetti and cold sparks. We also play Hanukkah, Purim and Rosh Hashanah parties.

What is Novy God and how is it celebrated?

Novy God is the Russian New Year, celebrated on the night of December 31. For many families who came from the former Soviet Union, it’s the main winter holiday. Expect a long dinner, toasts to the year that’s ending, a countdown at midnight and dancing late into the night. It’s a secular holiday, and the whole night builds up to the moment the clock strikes twelve.

Some families celebrate at home, while others book a restaurant or a hall with friends. Either way, guests expect the New Year songs they remember from childhood, and they expect to sing along. We sing those live. Then we switch to Israeli and English hits for the younger guests and anyone who didn’t grow up with Novy God.

One practical detail: in Israel, December 31 and January 1 are ordinary working days. Families usually still hold their New Year’s Eve party on the night itself, while companies often move theirs to the nearest weekend. Settle the date and the start time early, because both affect when the venue lets us in to set up.

How do you plan New Year party entertainment around midnight?

Work backward from midnight, the moment everyone remembers from a New Year party, and let the entertainment build toward it. The music climbs through the last part of the evening. Then the lights drop and the whole room counts down from ten.

On zero, confetti and cold sparks go off together. The first song of the new year starts right after the toast.

Decide in advance who leads the countdown: your host, one of the singers or a clock on a screen. Check the venue’s rules for sparks and confetti early, because restaurants and halls differ, and some allow neither. If sparks are out, a confetti burst with the lights on full still makes a proper midnight. Read up on cold sparks, confetti and the other effects before you talk to the venue.

Which shows fit Hanukkah, Purim and Rosh Hashanah?

Hanukkah

Hanukkah parties fall in the same busy weeks as Novy God, and in some years the two overlap. A good Hanukkah evening starts with the candles and the holiday songs, then moves to the dance floor. Bubbles and soft light suit family parties with small children.

Purim

Purim means costume parties, and costume parties want color. Confetti, haze and colored light make the costumes stand out on the dance floor and in the pictures. Guests come dressed to be looked at, so the photo and video part of the show earns its place.

Rosh Hashanah

In September or early October, companies raise a glass for the new year, and families gather for the holiday dinner. An office toast usually calls for a smaller package, such as the trio with sound and microphones. For a company holiday party in a hall, the full show works the same way as at any corporate party.

Can one party cover Novy God and Hanukkah?

Yes, and in the years when the dates meet, it’s a natural fit. Light the Hanukkah candles early in the evening with the holiday songs. Keep the Russian New Year songs for the second half, and save the confetti for midnight. The grandparents, the kids and the Israeli side of the family each get a part that feels like theirs.

Why do December dates go so early?

Because everyone wants the same few nights. December 31 comes once a year, Hanukkah parties crowd into the same weeks, and company parties pile onto the weekends. That’s why New Year party entertainment gets booked early. If you already know your date, send it now and we’ll check whether it’s free.

The full show package covers all the entertainment for a New Year party: singers, dancers, DJ, effects, and photo and video. It costs from ₪10,000 plus travel.

Need less, like the trio and a DJ for a family Novy God in a restaurant? Put that mix together, and we’ll price it. For Russian-speaking guests, there’s more on Russian songs at family events.