Countdown: a New Year's Eve card you count down together
Countdown puts the ten most anticipated seconds of New Year's Eve on a phone screen. The scene is a snowy city with a clock tower showing 23:59:50. When the recipient starts, the numbers drop from ten to one, and for the last three the camera closes in on the tower as the edges darken. At zero a bell rings, fireworks open over the rooftops and two of them write the new year and the recipient's name in the sky. Then the noise settles and they light a wish lantern of their own.
It works best for someone you can't be with at midnight: a sibling studying in another city, a friend abroad, a relative working the night shift. You send the link by WhatsApp or any chat, and they open it in their phone's browser with nothing to install. Because the countdown starts when they tap, time zones don't get in the way.
What does the recipient experience?
- A short invitation says the sender wants to count down to the new year with you. You turn the sound on and tap “Start the countdown”.
- Your name appears letter by letter, then the numbers run from 10 down to 1 while the clock tower ticks toward midnight.
- At zero a bell rings and fireworks burst; two of them write the new year and your name across the sky while searchlights sweep overhead.
- A paper lantern floats up in front of you. Press and hold until it glows, then let go: it rises with other lanterns from the city as “Auld Lang Syne” plays.
- The sender's message opens on a card. Tap “Say thanks” to send back an emoji, or “Again” to watch the whole thing once more.
What can you choose?
There are no colours or scenes to pick here. The sender writes the recipient's name, their own name and, if they like, a message; leave it empty and a short New Year wish is shown instead. The year written in the sky comes from the date the card was made: made in January, it shows that year; made in any other month, it shows the year ahead.
When to send it
The natural moment is New Year's Eve or the first days of January. Cards are deleted after seven days, so make yours only a few days before the 31st; sent too early, it may be gone before midnight arrives. The bell, fireworks and music carry a lot of the moment, so suggest turning the sound on. It still works muted, and the lantern is lit by holding a button either way.
Common questions
Does the countdown follow the real clock?
No. It starts the moment the recipient taps the button and takes ten seconds. The 23:59:50 on the tower is part of the scene, so the card can be opened at any time of day.
What if the lantern won't light?
If you let go too early the lantern starts to fade and a hint tells you to hold a little longer. About two seconds of holding is enough; release once it glows fully.
Where does the recipient's name show up?
Before the countdown on screen, in the line the fireworks write across the sky at midnight, and again in the “Happy New Year” heading that follows.