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Do you celebrate New Year's Eve

(75 Posts)
Judy54 Wed 13-Dec-23 14:54:09

When we were younger we often went to parties and had a great time singing and dancing. In later years it has been more sedate, dinner or drinks and nibbles with friends at their houses or ours. This year as Mr J recovers from major surgery, we have decided to have a quiet night at home with a lovely meal and perhaps a celebratory drink. Think we are getting to old for these celebrations and late nights! How do you feel will you be celebrating New Year's Eve?

Romola Wed 13-Dec-23 19:26:42

NYE we always celebrated with my late DH's long-time friend and his partner whose birthday is on NYE.
And lucky me, they are coming to me this time, when we shall be joined by another couple with whom they get on well.
I shall enjoy preparing the meal.

BigBertha1 Thu 14-Dec-23 06:03:07

Not for us but we like to clean the house of all the decs and leftover food on New Years Day with a toast to the New Year. This year taking a holiday in January to celebrate our 45th Wedding Anniversary.

nanna8 Thu 14-Dec-23 06:32:37

Always. Can’t remember any year that we didn’t once I was an adult. My parents celebrated when they went up to Yorkshire to Mum’s family but we have always either been to a party, had people round or gone out with friends. This year we are going to an RSL ( returned soldiers league) do with dancing, singing and an evening meal. Starts at 7 pm until after midnight. I like all the first footing stuff, lumps of coal etc but they don’t tend to do that here. I suppose we won’t be able to get any coal now that it is supposed to be destroying our world.

henetha Thu 14-Dec-23 10:29:46

When I was young I always went out somewhere or celebrated with friends. In my middle years I became a baby sitter for various babies/children. Now that I'm old I don't do anything except just watch the fireworks from London and have a glass of something. - more likely to be hot chocolate than wine these days.

hollysteers Thu 14-Dec-23 12:30:26

With late DH NY was spent in London travelling down with the DC to stay with his family. We travelled from the north, it was quite a palaver as my DD had her birthday party on the 28th and Christmas to be dealt with of course.
Now I’m alone, I drink a glass of sherry here and am quite happy. In fact NY rather frightens me, a whole year rolling in! I know it’s only a date, but there you are.

Grandmabatty Thu 14-Dec-23 12:49:06

Being Scottish, it was in my genes! Mum scrubbed the house from top to bottom, even the lampshades were cleaned. Window sills and door steps were scrubbed with Ajax. There was no clothes left to be washed. Most years, mum and dad had a party at 'The Bells'. We were sent to bed at seven o'clock for a sleep then got up at half past eleven. Dad opened the back door to let the old year out and the First Foot had to be dark haired.
Once I was grown up and then married, my parents would come to us to first foot. We always had to pretend to be surprised, although they did it every year 😂
Now I watch someone on tv tell me when the new year has begun. I might have a drink and toast the new year then I'll go to bed. Times have changed

aonk Thu 14-Dec-23 12:53:48

I’m sad to read that the OP thinks she might be getting too old for a party and a late night and sorry to hear that her DH is unwell.
I don’t think you can be too old for these things. It’s just a matter of choice. DH and I and 2 friends go to a seaside hotel every year where there is a lovely dinner on NYE and dancing to a live band. The majority of the other guests are over 65 and people participate as they wish. There are quiet lounges to sit in as well. It’s so nice to relax after the run up to Christmas and a real treat for us. In the past we spent all our NYEs indoors with our children and it’s our time to enjoy ourselves now.

V3ra Thu 14-Dec-23 13:24:26

We will be dancing in the square at San Blas in Tenerife 🥂💃🕺🥂
Flying out on the 27th for five nights, just the two of us this year.
Previously we would have been with parents, but they're too old now, so we're enjoying it while we still can 😎

grandtanteJE65 Thu 14-Dec-23 13:36:51

I haven't made up my mind about New Year's Eve yet.

I won't go out, as the cats dislike fireworks and I don't want to leave them alone.

I might invite a friend and her dog round for dinner and a glass of something to see in the New Year at midnight.

Or just spend the evening alone, and go out after midnight to wish the neighbours Happy New Year.

Diggingdoris Sat 16-Dec-23 11:27:57

Not since teenage years when there was always a party to go to. Now DH and I always watch the fireworks on TV and spend the evening trying to calm the dog each time some are lit in our village.

Spuddy Sat 16-Dec-23 11:33:51

N/A to me and hubby as we're Atheists so never celebrate/have anything to do with Christmas, Resolutions, or do News Years Eve, etc. !

I've got off work the 24/25/26/27th December and 1st January so I'll be ensconced in our flat, extra sleeping, extra reading, being with our pets, scoffing cheese on toast and guzzling Inch's cider!

Missiseff Sat 16-Dec-23 11:41:33

Never been out, never been invited. I love a party, hub doesn't. We usually have an M&S meal deal & I'm in bed by 10

Lilyflower Sat 16-Dec-23 11:46:16

Nice meal. Nice Champagne. Early night. Lovely.

Repeat every Saturday throughout the year.

Redhead56 Sat 16-Dec-23 12:01:41

We used to go to beautiful dinner dances and overnight stay. We are going for a meal at a local restaurant with friends this year. We will be having some champagne but it won't be a late night.

nexus63 Sat 16-Dec-23 12:32:43

i always stay up for the bells, the last two years on my own, i still open the door and the window to let the old year out and the new year in, i was brought up in glasgow by my granny, she baked shortbread and sultana/cherry cake, if you had food as the new year came in you would always have food all year round. she never drank so we always had cans of juice. i miss the traditional scottish new year tv, you would think with all the channels we have one could have a scottish ceilidh type new year.

Lesley60 Sat 16-Dec-23 12:46:09

I’ve never been that keen on NYE I find it a bit maudlin, so for the past thirty years I’ve babysat for my daughters and their partners to go out and we have fun with the grandkids seeing who can stay up the longest and they have a party with the Christmas nibbles
I find it much more enjoyable than being out with a load of drunk strangers trying to kiss you happy new year
And seeing as I have 7 grandchildren ranging from 30 down to 5 it’s kept us happy for a long while.

Nannina Sat 16-Dec-23 12:46:33

These days I often don’t make it to midnight and head off to bed at usual time. The thought of crowded parties, pubs and clubs now give me the heeby jeebies

grumppa Sat 16-Dec-23 12:52:23

Just a drink at midnight to see the old year out, as my GM used to say. But we're usually up at midnight anyway.

Mojack26 Sat 16-Dec-23 12:53:57

Not celebrated Hogmanay for a long time. Usually go to bed after 'The Bells'. In my late teens and 20's was always out at some party or another but not now....🤣.

GrammaH Sat 16-Dec-23 13:00:54

A quiet evening in with close friends, some good food, a bottle or two of fizz & the fireworks on tv. Dress code: comfy. Bliss!

vampirequeen Sat 16-Dec-23 13:09:22

We'll sleep it in.

jaybee66 Sat 16-Dec-23 13:53:16

No, but the two of us do usually have a New Year drink about 10pm.

Elegran Sat 16-Dec-23 14:19:52

Spuddy "N/A to me and hubby as we're Atheists so never celebrate/have anything to do with Christmas, Resolutions, or do News Years Eve, etc. ! " Maybe I am being obtuse, but what has being atheist to do with the New Year? There is nothing at all religious about one whole year ending and the next beginning. That happens whether you believe in God (any God) or not.
New Year resolutions have no connection with God either. they are just about individuals deciding that starting a new year is a good time to start doing something "new".

Another point - it is not New Year's Eve that most people are actually celebrating, it is the New Year that is about to begin next day. That is why they drink a toast at midnight to the year that is starting. Has this confusion come over to the UK from the States, where they speak about what they are doing "at New Years" ? I always want to ask "New Year's what?" as the UK tradition is to talk about "New Year".

Norah Sat 16-Dec-23 14:28:13

Yes, we celebrate, same as in years gone by, we're not people who change up celebrations. Precision and predictability even on the last day of the year.

Fernhillnana Sat 16-Dec-23 14:55:49

I loathe it. Sitting trying to soothe my 2 rescue dogs who seem to hear the fireworks even if they are far away. Little trembling souls. I curse the whole thing!