Your Favorite New Year's Tradition?

[3113]

I have to confess, I've never much liked champagne or caviar or dressing up for some New Year's party. And I'm always amazed at Manhattanites who go out in the cold to stand in a big crowd most of the night to watch that ball drop. I sure couldn't do that.

I'm a comfort person, and I want my New Year's eve to be small and comfortable, quiet and cozy. In fact, I far prefer to celebrate New Year's day in casual clothes and with some kind of late morning breakfast, with the champagne in a kir royale or mimosa.

And cheesy as it is, I like watching the Rose Parade—and making fun of most of it That's a New Year's tradition for me.

What's yours? And will you be indulging in it this New Year's?

 

[johneb87]

Watching New Year's at the Needle on TV. I think I'm going to actually try to go there in person this year.

 

[PennLady]

I like to watch the Mummers' parade in Philly, but no one else in the house does.

 

[lovecraft68]

A bunch of the family gets together and we usually have a pool tournament and for those not still screwed up from the night before a few drinks.

Unfortunately I am out of that tradition this year. My father in law passed away today and the wake is 4-8 on New years day(long drama filled story) so talk about kicking the year off on a sour note.

 

[patientlee]

I like to watch the Mummers' parade in Philly, but no one else in the house does.

My husband's parents tried to take use the first year we were dating, but it was too windy. We've never tried again.

 

[sr71plt]

I like my first morning of the year to start out in the afternoon.

 

[patientlee]

A bunch of the family gets together and we usually have a pool tournament and for those not still screwed up from the night before a few drinks.

Unfortunately I am out of that tradition this year. My father in law passed away today and the wake is 4-8 on New years day(long drama filled story) so talk about kicking the year off on a sour note.

Sorry to hear that.

 

[Hoselvr6164]

Don't have any traditions any more. When my wife and I were younger, we used to have a party for friends on New Year's Day. Now, I go to bed before midnight and just sit watching TV all the next day.

 

[PennLady]

Unfortunately I am out of that tradition this year. My father in law passed away today and the wake is 4-8 on New years day(long drama filled story) so talk about kicking the year off on a sour note.

I'm sorry to hear that. My condolences to you and your wife.

My husband's parents tried to take use the first year we were dating, but it was too windy. We've never tried again.

I don't want to go and watch it in person. I just want to watch on TV. I will admit it's not what it used to be but I still like it.

 

[JagFarlane]

We like staying up till midnight, just watching some movies and flicking in to check out the ball drop in NYC. Mostly just have finger food and get liquored up, then sleep in till the next afternoon.

 

[_Lynn_]

A bunch of the family gets together and we usually have a pool tournament and for those not still screwed up from the night before a few drinks.

Unfortunately I am out of that tradition this year. My father in law passed away today and the wake is 4-8 on New years day(long drama filled story) so talk about kicking the year off on a sour note.

I don't have any traditions anymore. Not since my divorce several years ago. Now I treat the night the same as any other. I don't even own a TV so watching one of the specials is out.

 

[carlieplum]

I'm sorry for your family's loss, Lovecraft68

 

[carlieplum]

Am the only self-respecting person of Southern heritage who is going to be eating a mess of black eyes peas and cornbread on Jan 1?

 

[TheeGoatPig]

Going to bed early.

 

[sr71plt]

Am the only self-respecting person of Southern heritage who is going to be eating a mess of black eyes peas and cornbread on Jan 1?

Oh, god, I hope so. My brother-in-law has got to have sauerkraut and pigs knuckles on the 1st--which is probably why I never spend the 1st with him.

 

[_Lynn_]

Oh, god, I hope so. My brother-in-law has got to have sauerkraut and pigs knuckles on the 1st--which is probably why I never spend the 1st with him.

That sounds disgusting.

 

[dearc]

Staying home because there are too many amateur drinkers on the roads.

 

[Neonurotic]

For New Years Eve, it's a bunch of fireworks blasting off. Mostly can't do that where I live any time of year except when there is snow on the ground. Also, either snow crab legs or Alaskan for dinner, a tasty tradition on the Eve.

Am the only self-respecting person of Southern heritage who is going to be eating a mess of black eyes peas and cornbread on Jan 1?

I do and cabbage too. I'm Cajun.

 

[carlieplum]

Oh, god, I hope so. My brother-in-law has got to have sauerkraut and pigs knuckles on the 1st--which is probably why I never spend the 1st with him.

And black eyed peas and cornbread are the same as pigs' knuckles and sauerkraut in what way, exactly?

Sauerkraut on New Year's is a German tradition. Pig's knuckles are Scandinavian.

Blackeyed peas and cornbread are neither German nor Scandinavian. Germans eat very little corn. It's regarded as animal feed, not for people.

 

[3113]

Am the only self-respecting person of Southern heritage who is going to be eating a mess of black eyes peas and cornbread on Jan 1?

My tradition is lox and bagels for New Year's Day

Actually, we used to have friends who maintained the black-eyed peas and cornbread tradition (he was a southerner). They were the only ones we knew who did, and, in fact, I hadn't even heard about it until I met them. They'd always invite friends and neighbors over on January 1st to feast. It was something we very much looked forward to—not because we were all that fond of black eyed peas, but we always had such a warm and wonderful New Year's Day at their house.

Alas, they moved away. So, no, we won't be getting a taste of that tradition this year.

 

[SamScribble]

I’ve never been much of a New Year celebrator. In my younger days, I was a horn player in a reasonably successful R&B band, and New Year’s Eve was usually a profitable gig. But when I retired from the music scene, I also pretty much retired from the traditions.

One New Year’s that I did enjoy, however, was The Millennium. A small group of us walked down to the Thames and ended up between the river and Big Ben. That was fun. And noisy, too. With the fireworks - and then the bells - it was like World War III.

These days I have trouble staying awake past about 10:30.

 

[Hypoxia]

No long-lasting traditions, no. Various short-term rituals that expired as time passed, yes.

* Get together with some friends and get real blotto. That doesn't work well over time.
* Visit my cousin's desert home (with pool) for midnight skinny-dipping and fuckfests.
* Blow my trombone on my former rural home's verandah and blast the narrow valley.
* Yes, stand in Times Square and watch the ball fall amid snow. Did that a couple times.
* Just ignore the whole arbitrary calendar ritual. Big deal. Doesn't mean shit to a tree.
* Carve a fresh set of deities and fetishes to be burnt at intervals in the ensuing year.
* Celebrate Gregorian, Chinese, Jewish, Mayan and Zoroastrian New Years' equally.
* Fret about all the fucking end-of-ear deadlines and goals that I haven't yet attained.

Maybe it's time to start a new tradition. Something involving goats, maybe.

 

[Handley_Page]

Oh, god, I hope so. My brother-in-law has got to have sauerkraut and pigs knuckles on the 1st--which is probably why I never spend the 1st with him.

Is that the same as Ham Hock ?

No long-lasting traditions, no. Various short-term rituals that expired as time passed, yes.

* Get together with some friends and get real blotto. That doesn't work well over time.

Maybe it's time to start a new tradition. Something involving goats, maybe.

The family in-Laws used to do noisy things and occasionally 'first step' but no longer. I prefer a fairly early night and greet the dawn.

Would the involvement of Goats include a sharp knife and a decent drain ?

 

[SamScribble]

Would the involvement of Goats include a sharp knife and a decent drain ?

Manners, HP, manners.

 

[PennLady]

I've never had much of a tradition aside from just staying up until midnight. I always enjoy seeing a group of happy people celebrating, silly as that may sound. The last couple of years, Mr Penn and PennBoy and I have watched a movie, stayed up until midnight, and then gone to bed.