New Year's Eve

Anne here, and it's New Year's Eve. This is the third time I've been given the blog for New Year's Eve, so I looked up the old blogs to see what I'd written previously. My 2009 blog was quite interesting, as I was reflecting on how much had changed in the past decade, but now it feels like ancient history—which I suppose it is!

It's hard to believe 2022 is ending — the last few years have been quite extraordinary, with the pandemic — but when I look back on 2022, I can't decide whether it dragged or it whizzed by. Thinking about where I was and what I was doing a year ago, it seems as though it was years ago. But then I think about what has happened to me this year, and its as if only a handful of months have passed in a blur. So I'm confused. But I'm celebrating the coming of the new year anyway.

Do you do anything special on New Year's Eve? I vary. Sometimes I just meet up with a few friends for a quiet night, and we watch the fireworks. I love fireworks, and though there are various local ones, I enjoy the Sydney ones, where the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the reflections on the water make for a brilliant display. (The photo above is by Andreas Dress on Unsplash) 

I have friends who often hold a party on New Year's Eve, with a fire outside — it's summer in Australia, remember, so think warm, balmy nights. And sometimes stinking hot ones. I do love a fire, but we can't have proper big bonfires here because of the danger of bushfires.

I always drink a toast to "Auld Lang Syne." My Scots blood always comes out in me at this time of year, and one day I'd like to be in Edinburgh for Hogmanay (the Scots name for New Year's Eve.) Hogmanay is a big event in Scotland — bigger than Christmas for many — and fire plays a major part. One year they had a "Viking" torchlight procession — I would have loved to be there for that. There are some fabulous photos here. And more Hogmanay photos here.
There are so many rituals and traditions for ushering in the new year. Click here to read about some from other parts of the world.

Do you make resolutions for the new year? I usually reflect on the past year and think about my intentions for the new year, but I don't make resolutions. But if you do, there's a useful guide to sticking to your resolutions here.  

So, what about you? How do you celebrate the New Year — or is it just another day for you? (I also celebrate Chinese New Year. ) Do you love or loathe fireworks, or make resolutions? What are you hoping for next year?
HAPPY NEW YEAR from me, and all the wenches.

Comments

[Mary Jo Putney]

Anne, I love when you offer us pictures of the New Year's celebrations in Sydney! It really kicks the year off well.

We generally go out to dinner on New Year's Eve (though not this year because we waiting too long to get reservations.) WE eat early and get home before there is much chance of drunks on the road. Then we watch a rousing action movie in the evening, and finish in time to watch the ball drop in Times Square in NYC. We live in the same zone which makes it very immediate.

But no resolutions. Mostly I just change calendars and set up new files for the new year. *G*

[Molly R. Moody]

Oops! You goofed, a few times. 2023 isn't ending, it's just starting tomorrow. I don't celebrate the new year as I see no point in it, it's just another Sunday to me. I'm just hoping that it will be quiet tonight, no fireworks in the neighborhood as they're illegal here in town.

[Kareni]

My husband and I generally have a mellow New Year's Eve; we stay home and play board games. We are such party animals!

(I like fireworks for the colors, but I admit to detesting the sudden and startling booms of bottle rockets and the like.)

Wishing each and everyone a happy and healthy New Year!

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Mary Jo — yes, the Sydney fireworks are always wonderful to watch. You can see them on YouTube as well. I'm with you on resolutions. I'm facing my laptop now and setting up a few files for the new year — which is here already.

[Anne Gracie]

Whoops! Thanks Molly — I've fixed it now. I was getting ahead of myself, wasn't I? 2023 has dawned here already and is promising a hot and sunny day in the 30'sC (90's F). There were fireworks near my house, but I couldn't see any. I could hear lots of loud bangs though, but they only lasted 10 minutes.

[Anne Gracie]

LOL Kareni, you party animal! I must confess to being similarly inclined. Not for me the crowds and noise, but watching the fireworks on a screen is a very pleasant way to see them. I do like a real fire though, but it's too hot for that at the moment.

[Vicki L]

My husband has been glued to the TV today watching football... There are V.E.R.Y. important college bowl games being played right now. Grin.

Generally we just do our own thing, listen to all the fireworks going off and at 12:00 say Happy New year and head for bed.

Fireworks are legal here and they started shooting them off once it got dark (6:30 or so). So we'll have 6 hours of them...at least.

Happy New Year to all the Wenches and to all the Wenchly Readers. I am looking forward to all the upcoming posts and comments from all.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Vicki. The sport that dominate us here at this time of year is cricket. It starts with the Boxing Day test match, which is a 5 day match between the Australian Cricket tea, and another visiting national team — this time South Africa. It kicks off the summer Cricket season. And for those who don't like cricket, there's tennis. :)

[Janice J.]

It's 9:22 pm in LA now, halfway through Svengoolie (Earth vs the Spider, starring my first major crush Ed Kemmer), and it's raining. Usually there are fireworks starting by now in the neighborhood but I think the rain has damped the enthusiasts' passion for Big Bangs. Which is a blessing for all the poor dogs and cats who have no idea why bombs seem to be going off all around outside.

TCM is running all the Thin Man movies, and as we know, the first one has the best New Year's Eve party ever. So I am not unhappy that nobody I know does parties anymore. My neighbor went out to a party dressed in a pretty sparkly dress; she can represent :)

Wishing you all a Happy New Year :)

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks for that beautifully laconic report, Janice. I do enjoy fireworks, but I confess I hate the effect on dogs, cats and wildlife. My niece in Bali stays home on NYE with her three dogs who shake and tremble until the nasty noises stop. My Milly doesn't seem worried by them which is a relief. I'm glad you're enjoying a good movie and a relaxed evening. All the very best for 2023.

[Robin R]

We intended to watch the ball drop in Times Square, but lost track of time and as we watch TV so rarely, my son and I couldn't figure out how to coordinate the various remote controls to get the broadcast at all. I finally found the livestream show on YouTube at 12:00:37, so we did get to hear New York, New York, and see everyone kissing, but missed the countdown and ball fall.
Pleasant evening nonetheless.

[Constance]

Happy New Year, Anne! Our celebrations have diminished over the years, but this year we were both still awake, reading, at midnight, so ventured outside (it was a balmy 55F near Boston last night!) to watch the fireworks from the next town over our treetops - always a lovely sight and better enjoyed from a distance, I think! Today, I am making Hoppin’ John as I do every year on Jan 1. It’s a combination of rice and Crowder peas, cooked with a bit of smoked pork. The more peas you eat, the more luck you will have in the New Year - and if you cook a large pot, the less cooking you’ll have to do in the coming week! Served with corn bread and followed by Christmas dessert leftovers, it’s an encouraging start to a new year!
Best wishes for 2023 to everyone!

[Annette N]

I used to have a wedding anniversary on New Year's Eve. That ended. I still celebrated with a party for friends. Now, I am not celebrating the changing years. Maybe because I am now older than dirt.
I was always wanting to have celebrations - and sharing special times with people. And I believe that sharing times with people you love is one of the most important things we have in life.
I have no great wisdom - I reckon me being old just means I am old. But, one thing I know. We are all here together and we share the world with one another. I have hopes that before too long we all will learn that caring for one another and feeling a connection to one another will become a universal thing. I say prayers for that.
At the end of one year and the beginning of the next, I have a habit of thinking about stuff. And recently, most of the stuff has been - "when are we going to fall in love with the world and one another again"? I hope it is soon, I won't be here forever.
Y'all take care - Happy New Year - May your 2023 be filled with joy and love and serenity, but not too much serenity, we all need a little adventure in our lives. Please remember you are well loved.

[Teresa Broderick]

Happy New Year to all of you here!
We always stay home. Watch Jools Holland's show on tv, have drinks and nibbles. Quiet but it suits us. No fireworks around here. It's raining heavy here but no cold at present. Then again it's always raining here:)

[Anne Gracie]

Thank you, Constance. Hoppin' John sounds like good warming, tasty winter food. And most "stewey" dishes taste better the next day, don't they, so a large pot sounds like a good idea. And the extra good luck is a bonus. All the very best for 2023..

[Anne Gracie]

Annette, that's a lovely, wise post, and I couldn't agree more that we all need to love the world and each other more. And I'm with you in wanting serenity, but not too much. All the very best for 2023.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks, Teresa, I'm all for quiet celebrations too, these days. As for the rain — that's why everything is so beautifully green! We Australians who live in a "wide brown land" (that's from a poem) — especially at summer —never fail to marvel at Ireland's greenness. NZ is the same, lots of rain, lots of green. All the best for 2023.

[Anne Gracie]

It does get tricky sometimes finding the right place to watch things, Robin, I agree. I also floundered around a bit until I found a livestream that suited. But aren't we lucky to have so much accessible on line these days? I'm glad you had a pleasant evening. All the best for 2023.

[Karin]

Let me translate Janice's comment for someone from down under! Svengoolie is a television host on MeTV, which broadcasts very old stuff, like horror movies from the 1950's, Abbott & Costello, etc. Svengoolie dresses like a cross between Dracula and the band "Kiss", he introduces and comments on the films, and it's very funny. Svengoolie has been around for decades.

[Anne Gracie]

Thanks for the "translation" Karin. We used to have someone a bit like Svengoolie here, when I was a teen, but he's long gone. This one sounds like fun, and a great way to see in the new year.

[Karen S. Clift]

I settled in to watch one of those important college football games (Ohio St. vs Georgia) and went to sleep about 10 or so. Woke up about 2:30 AM, realized what time it was, said Happy New Year to Me, then went hunting the football score. Unhappily, OSU lost and I don't envy that poor kicker that missed the kick that would have won it for OSU--and he got to kick right at midnight. Ah well, someone has to lose, right?