Seasonal & Holiday December 29, 2025

Celebrating the New Year in DinoTopia

Happy New Year, Dino Fans! As we celebrate the start of a new year, have you ever wondered how the dinosaurs would have celebrated?

We know dinosaurs didn't actually watch a ball drop in Times Square, but if they did, their calendars would have looked very different from ours. Why? Because back in the time of the dinosaurs, time itself was actually different!

The Wobbly Science of Time

Here is a mind-blowing fact to tell your friends: The Earth used to spin faster than it does today!

Think of a spinning top. When you first spin it, it goes really fast. As it slows down, it starts to wobble a little. The Earth is slowing down very, very slowly due to the friction of the tides caused by the moon.

Because the Earth was spinning faster during the Triassic Period (about 250 million years ago), a single day wasn't 24 hours long. It was only about 23 hours long!

This means the dinosaurs had shorter days, fewer hours to sleep, and way fewer hours to play!

Fun Fact: Human Year vs. Dino Year

Since the days were shorter, the years were longer!

Even though it took the Earth the same amount of time to orbit the sun, the faster rotation meant you could fit more "days" into one "year."

A Human Year: 365 Days

A Dino Year (Triassic Period): Approximately 385 Days

That means a dinosaur would have had 20 extra days of school (or 20 extra days of summer vacation, depending on how you look at it)!

The Menu: What’s for Dinner?

If you are throwing a prehistoric New Year's Eve bash, you need to cater to every appetite.

Here is what is on the menu:

  • For the Herbivores (The Salad Bar): No grass allowed! (Grass hadn't evolved yet). Instead, serve a crunchy Fern Salad with a side of tough Cycad leaves and Pine needles. Chewy, but nutritious!
  • For the Carnivores (The Roast): The meat-eaters aren't interested in salad. They would be looking for the "Roast Beast"—or perhaps just some Rotisserie Lizard and Dragonfly skewers.

Dino Resolutions

Just like us, dinosaurs might want to improve themselves for the coming year. Here are a few resolutions we think they might make:

  • The T-Rex Resolution: "This year, I promise I will try to make my own bed... even if my arms are too short to reach the pillows."
  • The Brachiosaurus Resolution: "I will try to eat more greens. (Luckily, my long neck helps me reach the freshest leaves at the very top of the tree!)"
  • The Triceratops Resolution: "I will try not to lose my head when I get angry. I'll use my horns for protecting my friends, not for poking!"