New Year's Traditions.

[nellypope]

I love Christmas, Birthday's etc, but New Year's always leaves me cold. Everyone and every family have their own traditions for most celebrations and I was wondering does anyone have any particular New Year ones? Some people have big family get togethers, some go to the cinema, other's get absolutely polluted (I've tried this, but now I have a young family apparently I'm not allowed), I have friends that always go to the cinema, and some have fireworks. We have never celebrated it. Admittedly in previous years, pre-children & marriage, I once spend New Year's eve in a hotel broom cupboard after drinking the best part of a bottle of tequila and locking myself out, and once slept in a beer garden, I believe the local constabulary found me and returned me, but I'm too old and weighed down with responsibility to get away with these wild shenanigans. What does everyone else do?

[boxtops]

I married into Scottish traditions, so there is always a party, with kilts - but not necessarily everyone getting bladdered, we just have a thoroughly good time. If the party is in one of the family homes, the youngest lad gets sent out at 11.55pm and knocks the door after the bells, coming in with a piece of coal and a bottle of whisky (both always well received!). We usually go home about 1pm.

[Fanriffic]

Personally I hate New Years Eve - Hogmanay here in Scotland. I always reflect on what a krap year its' been and why I didn't do all the things I'd said I do the previous Hogmanay. I'm a teetotal Scottish bloke so don't like going out to get drunk and waste my money or lack of it.
Everybody celebrates the New Year in their own way. Some people like to go to a party, some stay at home and watch TV or go to bed, some go to street parties in their home town/city for fireworks and some probably go away on holiday abroad to avoid the shenanigans.

I just stay in and watch the TV and my comedy DVDs with family and wonder what the forthcoming year will bring. Looking forward to 2014 Winter Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Scottish Independence Referendum and hopefully find a new girlfriend. A new job would be brilliant for a wee change.
Happy New Year Nelly when the time comes. Best wishes and health to you. :o)

[boxtops]

Fan, I can remember living in Scotland and it was very quiet - my then OH and I used to watch the bells on the TV then go to bed, much to the surprise of our neighbours! When we were little it wasn't celebrated at all, it was just another night in my mum and dad's household.

[Eve]

I think I'll be celebrating seeing the back of this year :) Could have been far worse but I still get that new year hope, I figure why not.

I prefer house parties with friends, not keen on being out and about, too expensive and too many idiots about.

Recently I've loved watching all the fire lanterns going up but they have had a lot of bad press so not quite the same now. I love sparklers and fireworks and all that kind of thing though.

I didn't make it out last year so am hoping to get to a house party this year, could do with a good night out.

[pixie373]

Same as you really, nellypope. Used to go out pubbing and partying pre-children,but now find it the most over-rated night of the year. Love Christmas, but a bit bah, humbug about New Year.

[BlueToffee]

30 years ago when our children were young there was a group of who used to take it in turns to have a 'do' at their house. Children would crash out as and when.

Children grow and families move. We are now just two couples who, for the last 10 years, celebrate New Year alternately at each other's houses.

We always have black tie and evening dress dinners, sit around the table and eat, drink, chat and play silly games. About 11:55 we turn the TV on to watch the fireworks at midnight. By 12:45 we're usually tucked up in bed.

Happy New Year nellypope.

[Fanriffic]

Boxtops, Hogmanay played a big part of my life when I was younger as we used to go to other peoples houses, be it family, friends or neighbours and there was plenty of food and drink to feed an army. There would be singing, dancing and party games and people getting 'jiggy with it' in the spare rooms.
But when the older generation relatives started dying off and friends moved on to pastures new, the Hogmanay traditions started fading out in our social circles.
Good for the younger crowds now but not for me - I've had my quota.
Pass the carpet slippers and cosy cardigan so I can watch Jackie Bird on the BBC1 and then Chewin' the Fat after the Bells. Ha ha ha.
Happy New Year to you Boxtops when the Bells strike midnight.

[ELVIS68]

We used to go out every New Years Eve but pubs started getting greedy and charging entrance fees so we don't bother any more.

I always sign overtime on New Years Eve, in at 10pm and home again by 11pm and still get paid 8 hours double time

[2sp_]

Pre-husband and pre-children, I would spend Hogmanay with friends, usually at the street party in Edinburgh or in my home town. Ahhh, the 3 day hangovers...

Now I'm too old and knackered to make it much past midnight, so it's just me and Mr P waiting for the bells, then I send him outside to knock on the door with a lump of coal.

[boxtops]

Thank you, Fan, and the same to you!

[Tilly2]

We tend to go out for an Indian meal, arrive home about 10.30pm and the toast in the New Year with our favourite tipple. I hate having to be in a pub from 7.00 pm until midnight .

[2sp_]

(I make him knock with his hand, not the lump of coal.)

[woofgang]

I let new year arrive without my assistance and always have. In my young days I did party all night but not especially because it was new year

[petal54]

my O/H not too bothered re any trads,my parents used to have awful nye do's,just for the 'locals',who all used stand about

[Ric.ror]

I go to bed at about 10.30 then get woken up by other folks fireworks
I don't mind though cause I like firworks

[DaisyNonna]

Usually spend New Year alone. (If you can be alone with the TV, backlog of films to watch, a good book and if that fails, my Kindle.) Will have a bottle of Scotch to hand and some sausage rolls. Will open front and back doors at 11.58 and close them at 12.02. Giving me time to rush up and down front and back stairs, listen to the chimes and a quick swig of cheer.

[2sp_]

I used to open both doors too, Daisy, until Mr P complained about the cold draught.

[boxtops]

I wouldn't open the doors, the cats would be scared if there were fireworks :-(

[boxtops]

There's a similar thread from two years back, in related Threads at the bottom of this page

[Blackiequine]

We used to have fabulous Hogmanay's with neighbours. It was one of the few times of year that people had alcohol. Everyone had a good time. There's no novelty now that people can afford to party any and every weekend at will.