In Defense of New Year's Eve
It's the best holiday of the season — you're just doing it wrong.
New Year’s Eve is my favorite holiday. I will argue that it is the best holiday.
I’m not trolling you. This is genuinely how I feel. But the shock, awe, disgust, anger, and confusion I am always met with when I make this proclamation made me realize that culturally, we are doing New Year’s Eve a huge disservice by not celebrating it in its most ideal way. Which, coincidentally is my way.
If New Year’s Eve isn’t your favorite holiday, you’re doing it wrong. But in order to grow past what no longer serves us, first we must evaluate why it’s not working.
Do NOT go out on New Year’s Eve
This is somehow what everyone thinks they need to do to have fun on NYE. I don’t know why, because not only is it a nightmare, but it’s also expensive. Plus, you need to figure out how to get home from the bar/restaurant/abandoned warehouse building filled with Edison bulbs, and everyone else in the entire universe is trying to get home at the same time as you. Ride shares are surging, every taxi is full, and depending on where you live, public transit isn’t an option. Also? It’s probably fucking cold and you didn’t wear a proper coat and now you’re stuck outside trying to see who can flag a cab. One time I rang in midnight in a cab holding my friend’s head upright because the driver kept yelling, “She’s too drunk to be in here!” and I was like, “No she’s just tired!” as I weekend-at-Bernie’d her for the entire 15 minute ride. I would very much like to never do that again.
Do NOT get dressed up on New Year’s Eve
It’s fun to get dressed up! I love it! I love a big fancy outfit with hair and makeup and nails and shoes and the whole thing. It would make sense if you were going out to get all dressed up, but since you’re not going out, guess what? You can now use my “no pants with zippers” rule as a dress code for your cozy indoors NYE. I think that the holiday season as a whole is traditionally one where people get dressed up frequently, and it becomes a little stressful. NYE is your balm from high-waisted tights and cute shoes that hurt a little after one hour and a lot after four. Your New Year’s Eve outfit inspiration is just everything Sandra Bullock wears in While You Were Sleeping. It’s a wardrobe reset.
Do NOT gather in large groups on New Year’s Eve
This is crucial to enjoying this incredible holiday! You might think that a house party is a cute way to circumvent my “no going out” rule, but I’m here to tell you that it is not. A house party might feel less intense than a bar or restaurant, but in my experience, they share almost all of the same drawbacks plus you are going to run into more acquaintances that you don’t like. Whenever I go to a house party I’m like oh wow, two people who were mean to me in college plus a guy I hooked up with in 2017 plus my friend’s toxic ex are also somehow here, cool. Instead, gather with your closest friends in whoever has the most ample seating in their apartment. New Year’s Eve is a time to gather with your favorite people and relax and unwind from the obligations of the rest of the year. Especially since a lot of us go back to work almost immediately after NYE (thanks, capitalism), I think that emotionally it is better to spend a night in to recharge rather than a night out filled with stress and anxiety.
Do NOT place romantic significance on New Year’s Eve
I don’t know why “getting a kiss at midnight” became a thing. This is the narrative Hollywood has created for single people, and I reject it! Obviously if you are in a relationship, kiss bae! I don’t care! But if you’re single and think that going to the same party as your crush will culminate in some profession of feelings and a midnight kiss — I am here to tell you that it will NOT. And your night will be spent worrying about getting the mechanics of it right instead of enjoying yourself. I firmly believe that New Year’s Eve is about celebrating the relationships that are already in your life and looking forward to another year with these people that you love. Nothing compares to quality time with your favorite people in the world.
Now that we’ve outlined what not to do, let’s imagine the perfect world that exists when you celebrate New Year’s Eve like I do:
It’s 8:00 p.m., and a handful of your closest friends are arriving with wine. On the table is an array of the best chips, dips, and frozen appetizers from Costco. You’ve already chosen a beloved movie franchise to play in the background throughout the evening, maybe LOTR or Star Wars. You grab a glass of wine and shove four chips in your mouth in rapid succession then comment on how hot Aragorn/Han Solo is. You gather to play a board game, maybe a classic Scattergories or Pictionary, maybe a cooperative board game like Forbidden Island, or maybe True Colors, if you know each other well enough (and/or have had enough wine). You’re laughing, having a good time. You make a frozen pizza and watch the movie for a little bit, goofing on it because you’ve all seen it 900 times. Everyone starts talking about their feelings, about how their year went, and about what they want to focus on next year. No resolutions, just some light reflection and intention-setting. At some point someone will put on Beyoncé music videos on YouTube, and everyone will start dancing. Eventually the Responsible One (me) will realize that it’s five minutes to midnight, and you’ll find a place to watch the countdown, (after playing “Countdown” of course). Everyone gets a fresh drink, you countdown, and HURRAY! IT’S MIDNIGHT! Hugs all around, glasses clink, and now it’s back to a Beyoncé dance party for another hour or so until everyone is ready to hit the road. As the last person leaves, you close the door. You’re a little drunk, full of love, and excited for the new year.
Now, are you really going to tell me that isn’t the best holiday of the year?
It makes me so deeply sad that this year I can’t experience New Year’s Eve with my friends like this. And it also makes me sad that none of us can celebrate this or any holiday the way we want to for the foreseeable future. But the spirit of NYE is all about reflection and intention: cherishing what we have and getting excited about what else is coming our way. It might feel impossible to do that this year, given all that we’ve lost. But no matter where you’re at this New Year’s Eve, know that I’m celebrating it with you. And with mozzarella sticks.
Speaking of spending time with friends watching movies, we are very excited to announce the very first Gold-Plated Girls Movie Night! Join us on our Twitter and Instagram this Saturday, December 12th at 7pm EST as we watch and share our thoughts on the Netflix Christmas classic, The Princess Switch. So, follow us now and get ready to watch Vanessa Hudgens be two people!!
This NYE sounds *chefs kiss*
Wish we could do that together this year 💕