I don’t like it. I live quite close to the harbour in Sydney, where the fireworks are set off at midnight. Every year there’s a huge influx of people who come to my suburb to celebrate. The crowds themselves don’t concern me. It’s the huge mess that the trashier ones leave behind, and the wave of drunken vandalism that ensues each year, that really pisses me off.
The nicest New Year’s Eve I can remember was the turn from 1999 to 2000 – we went into the fields behind my wife’s mother’s house in Portmarnock, outside of Dublin, Ireland. There’s a slight eleveation there, and at midnight we could hear church-bells ringing from far away, and could see fireworks going off up and down the Liffey valley. This year, my wife’s got an early shift on 1/1/10, so we’ll probably be in bed by 11 pm, if not sooner.
Beyond that, I hate the pressure to “have fun” on New Year’s.
Wishing you a good day, a good year and a great life!
To the OP: Well, I’ve had some good ones, but mostly I don’t enjoy it. I mostly celebrate now by going to bed. This year I will be out with a few friends, but I won’t be out late.
My birthday as well, its a great excuse to grab a bunch of friends and go out for a drunk and a half. I usually end up at the freakiest show in town but this year that doesnt seem to be happening so we might hit a cabaret in town.
Halloween is also on my list of favorite times of the year (well usually the Saturday before halloween)
I like our New Year’s Eve, but because I don’t drink, I don’t stay up late, and I hate fireworks, I don’t like NYE parties at all. So we just stay home, maybe eat something a little fancier than we otherwise would, watch a movie, snuggle together a bit, maybe reflect on the year, and go to bed after we see the East Coast New Year’s. (We’re in Central time and I can usually stay awake until 11 to see the ball drop in NYC.)
We got engaged on NYE 3 years ago so it is special for us, just in a quiet, just-the-two-of-us kind of way, not a big, go-out-and-party kind of way.
This, in St. Louis:
http://www.grandcenter.org/firstnight/
This is it’s third year and it’s just tremendous. It’s family friendly (i.e. no booze, but there are several restaurants/pubs around and yours truly never attends without a flask!) My husband works for Grand Center, so we’re obligated to go. My brother brings his family and a good time is had by all.
It is not my thing. But then, I go to bed early anyway. I am annoyed if I am awake at midnight.
My birthday too. And if anyone ever notices that twickster and I call each other “twin” it’s because we discovered that not only do we share a birthday but a birth year!
It’s a great day to party!
I have just three words to explain why I like New Year’s Eve:
TWILIGHT ZONE MARATHON!!!1!
Every year. On the SciFi Channel.
If you don’t like HUGE parties with a few thousand of your closest friends you have never met, then by all means do whatever you like.
Me? Going for the biggest shindig I can find. Last year was in Mexico, BIG BLAST TIME!!!
If I had someone to celebrate with (maybe get my first ever new year’s kiss) or had friends who were local and invited me to parties, I’d probably like it more. The past few years I’ve found myself in tears at midnight, mourning another year of loneliness passing. I figure tomorrow night will be the same. And it sucks.
So no, I don’t enjoy New Year’s Eve at all.
I used to go to bars or friends houses and get all drunk but the last 5-6 years I’ve decided I don’t like being on the road with so many drunk people so I stay home and watch movies. My parents live about 5 miles away and this year we’ll be watching movies over at their place and I don’t mind the drive since it is so short.
Ooo! Take me, take me!
I was just going to say that yes, I am one of those people. I wear the shiny stuff and drink all night and like to see the sun come up.
This year will suck for me because I will be at home with just one of my two kids (no, I don’t normally have them with me for the drinking till you see the sunrise - I’m not that irresponsible!) so I’ll be lonely for one kid and entertaining a 4 year old knowing that my friends are all out at clubs and I have no babysitter and my boyfriend is with his daughter 3 hours away and we can’t even kiss at midnight. That’s ok though, because that means this year I get my New Year’s kiss from my 4 year old and that is good enough for me.
I just love it. I love all the joy and partying and feeling of promise and the washing off of the old year and the bands and the clothes and freezing your ass off to toast the television but to be outside to see the fireworks and the simultaneous feeling of “it’s over” and “it’s just begun” and it’s like taking off the worn out old shoes of 2008 and the holidays and putting on the sparkly new pretty shoes of 2009.
My God, I forgot all about that! Thanks for the link. Wait a minute, I’m not supposed to like big get togethers. Oh, well - there’s a first time for everything.
Well, not wanting to be redundant, I will simply say that I offer the same wish to you as I did to Twickster.
It’s just an excuse to do lots of drugs and watch the fireworks - just a big party. Usually, I like it. Sometimes I just don’t feel like it.
This year, I’m going to take it fairly easy: hang out with some friends, drink a few drinks, watch a lot of fireworks.
I’ve never been to a really big New Year party. We usually just hang out with some friends; my girlfriend’s usually asleep long before midnight. Low-key, which I like. I stay up to see the new year in, usually drink a little spumanti.
Right now, though, this past week has been one of the worst of my life, and I can’t wait for this year to be over.
I get to be in the opening parade with the Harris Stowe drumline; unfortunately, I’ll be wearing a “hoopla” costume
http://www.pinkincdesign.com/tfs-performance.html
and not the spectacular shiny outfits that the girls (and the “token” guy) wear.
Usually around here it’s just maybe have a snack or two, and maybe watch some of the TV stuff.
This year the kids are making plans, and my husband and I will be home alone, so I’m hoping this one will be one I enjoy.
I like it. This year I’m going to the hockey game. The Canes host a New Year’s Ever party afterward with a band, a puck drop at midnight with a champagne toast, then fireworks outside the arena. This year I’ll have my sweetie to kiss. I’m looking forward to it!