I’m late to participate in Linda’s Flashback because this week she’s asking us about New Year’s Eve–which isn’t exactly laden with memories for me. But I suppose I’ll give it a go anyway.
Today Linda asks… How did your family celebrate New Year’s when you were growing up? Was staying up on New Year’s Eve a big deal? Was it a date night for your parents or was it a family occasion? Did your family have any particular traditions for New Year’s? Were resolutions emphasized? Did you do fireworks? Watch parades or bowl games? Were there church activities you attended? Did Christmas activities extend into the new year? Was the Epiphany a focus?
In answer to all of the above: No, we didn’t do any of those things.
Dad was and is very uncomfortable with the often-slick roads and often-drunk drivers of New Year’s Eve, so we generally stayed in on New Year’s Eve. Mom and Dad generally put the kids to bed by nine as usual and went to bed themselves by ten or eleven.
So I never even noticed New Years during my elementary years–and I spent the New Years of my teen years reading old journals and writing out reflections on the previous year and goals for the upcoming year.
Which wasn’t really that bad, actually.
Nevertheless, I react to my austere New Year’s Eve memories by throwing parties on New Year’s Eve now.
The weather is still unpredictable (we got 3 or so inches of snow this morning here). And drunk driving is still a problem (especially in the rural Nebraska in which I now live).
I say, never mind all that. Stay the night if you’re worried, but come party with us for now.
This year, we’re hoping people will brave the snow and cold to pack the House of Dreams this evening. I’m spending the day cooking and baking; we’ve got the air mattresses out and ready to go for overnight guests; games are waiting to be played.
My parents have RSVP’d–and they haven’t called to cancel yet. So I’m still holding out hope that the spell will be broken and my family will become New Year’s Eve Party Animals yet! :-)
Hear other people’s New Year’s Memories with Mocha with Linda’s Flashback Friday Meme
Sounds like fun! Happy New Year!
I hope your parents make it and you all have a wonderful time!
Happy New Year!
You are too funny! I on the other hand got all that “crazy party” stuff out of my system long ago…when I was a kid we played games and ate. Then when the new year came we went outside in the freezing cold to bang pots and pans and make lots of noise…As an older teen I went with my now hubby to various friends and played cards, etc. for the past few years I have not even seen the new year come in…It will come regardless if I am awake or not. So that I won’t be crabby on the new day, I go to bed! Hope yours is a happy one!
Some of my sisters used to stay up all night with the radio on really low and a flashlight, writing down the top songs of the year, I guess from Billboard or whoever. Not a big fan of New Year’s Eve and all the drunk people out and about.
That does sound like fun! Hope everyone has a wonderful time!
Well, the parents did make it. We had a full house and played games and ate until countdown time, when some ran out into the subzero temperature to yell and stomp (inspired from Monica’s comment.) A great time was had by all!