Is New Year’s Eve the Worst Holiday?

Richocet ^ | December 30, 2014 | Jon Gabriel

[C19fan]

As a kid, New Year’s Eve fascinated me. It was a night when grown-ups dressed up, drank fancy cocktails and danced across ballroom floors. Granted, my parents only went out a time or two, but I had seen the movies. Most adults had the times of their lives and I couldn’t wait to join them. We kids would fight to stay up late, bang pots and pans and light the illicit firework or two, but it just wasn’t the same.

Once I hit drinking age, I spent several New Year’s Eves at college bars or block parties where I could finally join the excitement. I rarely found much. Most the celebrations were overcrowded nightmares of sweaty throngs and queasy drinkers. Hardly the tuxedo-clad soirées I had imagined as a lad. There wasn’t even a big band, for pity’s sake.

[C19fan]

I hate New Year's Eve. Part of it is growing up in the NYC metro during the 1970s the dropping of the ball in Times Square was associated with binge drinking, arrests, and getting bottles thrown at your head. Unfortunately my wife is a big fan so I have to gut it out. We went to the 2000 celebration at Disneyland. It was cold and rainy and so crowded we hardly went on any rides. I was praying to get through it all. Went to Disney World for New Years a few years ago. My wife almost got into a couple of fights against some really pushy people there. The only time I had some fun was I went to New Years celebration in NYC with a friend and his girlfriend. We kept away from Times Square but you can buy a pass to all sort of events throughout town. One really nice one was there an orchestra playing waltzes and the like.

[9thLife]

Times Square is a sad place.

[Biggirl]

That is why now they have what is called “The First Night” gatherings, so as to make New Year’s Eve much more “family oriented”.

[exnavy]

NYC is a sad place. IMHO

[Biggirl]

.....Plus with the protests still going on, it will be “interesting” tonight.

[cuban leaf]

I think it is the holiday where you have the best chance of casual sex with a complete stranger.

So yeah, it could be considered the worst holiday.

[olepap]

I got arrested and beaten by the LAPD one New Years Eve (actually early New Years Day). I smashed my VW into a telephone pole attempting to elude the police. I was drunk and ready to fight so the cops beat me down. Many, many hours later I was processed into LA County Jail. What a hellhole!

[rarestia]

I’m 34 and will be fast asleep when midnight rolls around. This isn’t a holiday for me. It’s more just another few days off from work to catch up on real world necessities before going back to the weekly work grind.

[2ndDivisionVet]

W.C. Fields called it “amateur night” and abhorred it.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Wait until you’re 54.

[albie]

NYE is a dangerous night. Too many drunks. Too expensive. I haven’t seen 12:00am on NYE for 10 years. I don’t feel like I’ve missed a thing.

[Jemian]

No, it isn’t. My dad was born on New Year’s Eve and I am very thankful.

[duckman]

We always had big family parties New Years Eve, large Italian buffet made by my Mother and Sisters. When I was a kid, my parents would watch Guy Lombardo, boring to say the least. They would always comment, when they saw a young girl dance by the TV camera with an old man, “I hope his wife isn’t watching. I was too young to know what they meant; but eventually figured it out.

[rfreedom4u]

My wife and I go to an early dinner and then home. Now that we are in the Houston area I don’t like being out among the populace. Traffic sucks bad enough without festivities going on.

[Biggirl]

What about the sucess of the “family oriented” First Night celibrations?

[Fresh Wind]

New Year’s Eve isn’t a holiday.

[Mercat]

Our priest said that when he got to heaven he would ask God why, after all the celebration at Christmas there was another Holy Day of Obligation a few days later so heads up Catholic freepers, either this evening or tomorrow morning, go to Mass. A good way to start the New Year. It’s the Solemnity of Mary.

35 years ago today I was in labor and before midnight, my second child was born. We used to have a double party and the kids were in the basement with bubbly grape juice and silly string and at midnight we all were on the deck shooting off fireworks. Now Mr. Mercat and I fight to stay up to see the ball drop in NY and then go to bed. I usually do wake up at midnight though since there are lots of fireworks and even cannon going off.

[libertarian27]

It’s Amateur Night

[SES1066]

.....Plus with the protests still going on, it will be “interesting” tonight.

Ever since 09/11, I've felt that Times Square is NOT the place to be at the New Year. Yes, there will be a lot of security but since all it takes is ONE lapse and since the technology and lethality keeps getting better, why be at the equivalent of 'ground zero?'

Now add these professional anarchist & communist demonstrators bent upon disruption and the potential does increase. Of course weather and lack of restrooms while jousting with often inebriated 'best friends by proximity' makes the negative choice the most attractive one to me.

[JimSEA]

We pretty much ignore New Years Eve, always have. New Year’s Day is another matter. We cook up a ham or pot roast and have the kids over to watch bowl games. SIL brings over a couple of bottles of his home brew.