# The demise of New Year's Eve as a holiday **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596 "2014-12-31T06:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/41 "2014-12-31T17:16:34Z")
As a couple, we mostly fail at being really social, but one or another of our friends nearly always has a NYE party for us to go to. Tonight we’re going to the home of our good friends to hang out, play games, and eat lots of snackies. This couple always has a ‘family NYE party’ so we bring all our kids. At 9, the kids watch the ball drop in NYC and we go home to bed soon after. It’s the best of both worlds if you’re a parent! The 14+ teens have their own party/dance to go to, which actually does go till after 12. For some reason, there was one last night too, so my 14yo is still asleep right now at 9am. My husband and I have rarely stayed home on NYE, ever. There’s always somebody. ---
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/42 "2014-12-31T17:25:15Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > if you’re white. Technically he’s both. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/43 "2014-12-31T17:29:40Z")
> [@NinjaChick](#): > > New Year’s is a pretty dumb holiday, to be honest. “Oh, look! It’s midnight! The Earth has completed (roughly) one orbit since we last arbitrarily celebrated and…we haven’t all died, I guess, so that’s pretty cool!” You could apply this logic to every holiday. And your own birthday. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/44 "2014-12-31T17:31:34Z")
> [@elninost0rm](#): > > Technically he’s both. ba-ZING! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/45 "2014-12-31T17:36:58Z")
In my 20s I had many many great NYE celebrations at friends’ parties and at bars. Since around age 30, though, we’ve been staying home. We could easily get to & from a party/bar safely on the subway, but I no longer like the crowds or noise or (yes it’s a cliche) the amateurs. The folks who are making NYE their big “I’m going out and getting wrecked” night. Their one of two for the year, afaict, since I think these are the same yahoos ruining bar life on St Patrick’s Day. 😉 ETA - the bars here in Boston are packed for NYE and many of our neighbors put on shindigs. So I don’t think there are fewer people making a big deal out of tonight. ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/46 "2014-12-31T18:18:30Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > You could apply this logic to every holiday. And your own birthday. And it’s amazing how much more fuss was made at my birthday when I was five as compared to today! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/47 "2014-12-31T18:30:46Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Let’s face it. America is just far less awesome than it was in the late '50s early '60s. > > We made our own Chex mix and had bottles of booze in our desk at work and those people put men on the freaking moon. Nothing says “Laissez les bon temps roulez” like home made Chex mix. Nonetheless, Americans have way more entertainment options these days. Getting dressed up and drunk just isn’t that interesting. I do miss the dancing, though. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/48 "2014-12-31T18:47:48Z")
A lot of parents hesitate to do things without their kids nowadays. And since kids sleep early and we’ve had it pounded into our heads that we must keep our kids’ schedules at all costs, a lot of us don’t stay out that late anymore. Keep in mind, I say this speaking from my own experience as a parent who rarely sees her friends without their children, so there is no scientific fact to back it up. That said, as a family we usually have a party to go to or we go to a friend’s house to hang out and enjoy a few beverages until we all get tired. Tonight we’re going to an outdoor ice rink. But we’ll be home by 10 for a couple of reasons: 1. kids. 2. I work on New Year’s Day starting at 11 cst. I support a lot of government health plans and all benefits renew at 12:01 EST, so you have to start looking for issues at that point so you don’t create a healthcare access issue. So tonight when we get home at 10:30, I might have a nap and kiss the kids goodnight, but then I’ll log on, probably work until 2 or 3 a.m., take a nap, log on at 6 a.m. and work until 2-ish. And then I might celebrate. The 2nd will be more of the same. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/49 "2014-12-31T19:02:32Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > Let’s face it. America is just far less awesome than it was in the late '50s early '60s. > > We made our own Chex mix and had bottles of booze in our desk at work and those people put men on the freaking moon. > > Now we eat kale shakes and are politically correct and go to bed early on NY’s Eve while they stores get out their 4th of July decorations. > > Pathetic. A finer example of [Poe’s Law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law) will never be written. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/50 "2014-12-31T19:20:09Z")
There’ll be fireworks at midnight here; I’ll go to bed afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/51 "2014-12-31T20:57:31Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > A finer example of [Poe’s Law](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poe%27s_law) will never be written. Thank you Happy New Years! ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/52 "2014-12-31T21:10:54Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > New Years Eve parties are still a thing. We usually have a few invitations, and even host one every few years. > > I would suspect that the stereotypical demographic of the Dope is a bit introverted to partake in such normal festivities. This. > [@Athena](#): > > You guys are all old. We do something every NYE, even if it’s just hanging out at home, listening to music and drinking really good Champagne. We’re having friends over this year for dinner, music, and Champagne. Other years we head downtown, or to a friend’s party. There’s always something going on. And this. We’re going to a friends house and they are expecting another 20+ people. We’ll socialize and play games and at midnight there are fireworks at a nearby park we’ll head over to. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/53 "2014-12-31T21:34:25Z")
This may be the first New Year’s party I’ve ever gone to. Previous years, if we celebrated at all, it was with snacks around the TV. This year it may break up before midnight because the main hosts have twins that were born in November. I say main because it’s being held at their parents’ house, mostly because it’s closer to most of their friends and partly because they can retire, if needed, and not shut down the party. We’ll see how it goes. However it goes, it will be more social than most other years. I’ll be at least one person’s ride home. Not booze related, he just has no car available. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/54 "2014-12-31T21:42:28Z")
Things are different in other cultures, for example China: > [@](#): > > **A crush at a New Year’s Eve celebrations in Shanghai has killed 35 people** and injured some 42 others, Chinese state media report. > > The crush broke out in Chenyi Square in Shanghai’s Huangpu district, Xinhua news agency reported. > **[Shanghai new year crush kills 36](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-30646918)** > > A crush at New Year's Eve celebrations in Shanghai has killed 36 people and injured some 47 others, Chinese officials say. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/55 "2014-12-31T21:44:06Z")
Another boring old fart here. I’m staying in because: Everyone in my age range I know is also staying in. Bars and parties where there will be lots of drinking hasn’t appealed to me for about 20 years. I have a hard time staying up much past 10:30 or 11 pm. I’m planning on going on a 10 am, 6.5 mile hike with my Sierra Club group tomorrow and it’s a 45 minute drive. I want to have energy for that! It seems sort of arbitrary anyhow. It’s just another date… ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/56 "2014-12-31T22:02:05Z")
I’m 31. My wife doesn’t like going out to bars so I haven’t done the NYE bar thing since we started dating. Before that I had a blast every year full of drunken revelry. This year we’re just having two other couples over to the house to drink and play games. It should be a good time but it’s definitely low key. My brother in law got a ticket to the Coyote Ugly NYE party so he’s heading downtown to drop several hundred bucks. I think there is a window of like 22-35 where it’s a big deal, you can afford to party and your friends are still into it and then it tapers off as 1-2 am becomes really late and totally not worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/57 "2014-12-31T22:52:40Z")
Back in the 50s you could smoke in the office and have drinks at lunch. Deals were done with handshakes, cars got 15 mpg and nobody cared because gas was $0.23/gallon and had lead in it. Communism was bad and USA was the untarnished paragon of good. Whitey was in charge, the Blacks knew their place, and Mexicans lived in Mexico. Then Kennedy & Johnson happened and everything went to hell. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/58 "2014-12-31T23:03:51Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Maybe it’s party fatigue. A lot of folks did it up royal for Christmas and now they just want to relax and decompress from all the festive stuff they’ve had to endure for the past two month. I know that’s how I feel. > > Maybe people partied heartier in the past because they didn’t have anything better to do? I don’t think it’s so much that they didn’t have anything better to do, so much as that back then Christmas didn’t start on November 1st. People didn’t really start gearing up for Christmas until the middle of December, so they had a hell of a lot more energy left at New Years. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/59 "2014-12-31T23:06:56Z")
I’m 47. I’ve never even been to a NYE party. I’m wondering if I’ve ever been invited to one. 😕 Doesn’t matter anyway, as I really don’t see the point in celebrating on NYE. I put it in the same category as St. Patrick’s Day - drinking for the sake of drinking. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2014, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596/60 "2014-12-31T23:09:06Z")
Gonna esplain to everyone tonight about how Drunken Disorderly is a thing. In Michigan. And they’ll believe me, cause that’s the kinda crowd I partay with.😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-demise-of-new-years-eve-as-a-holiday/708596.md?page=4)