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new year- do you stay up?

(57 Posts)
jordana Fri 02-Dec-16 12:51:29

Do you stay up for 'the bells' at new year? Since I am rarely in bed before midnight most nights, I could see the new year in every night! When I was younger, my mum made a dinner at midnight including steak pie followed by peaches and cream. This was common among families we knew. Nowadays, my hubbies just opens a Newbottle of rum and we then toast to it. Settle to watch TV and then to bed around 1am

rubylady Wed 07-Dec-16 02:47:19

Yeah, I'll be up, bringing in the New year. Coal in one hand, bread in other along with a rolled up fiver. It's nice to see the fireworks and feel the optimism in the air. smile

Marelli Tue 06-Dec-16 07:12:52

We go to a large party in the village hall. All ages are welcome, including quite small children smile. We all take food to share and our own preferred tipple. There's always great music and at 'the bells' a piper joins the band on stage and he pipes in the New Year. Really good atmosphere.

suzied Mon 05-Dec-16 21:04:11

We have a party with the neighbours, everyone contributes a dish and a bottle, dress up in something glam, have some fireworks no one has to go too far to get home - love it

grannybuy Mon 05-Dec-16 20:54:17

As an Aberdonian child and belonging to a large extended family, New Year was a great time of comings and goings all night - first footing. It has mainly died away, but I have so many happy memories. Now, we have DDs and families every second year, and the alternate years, we see the New Year in with a drink and snacks, usually heading for bed about 1.00. Never been to bed before midnight at New Year, but I'm often up till after midnight anyway.

Trappy Sun 04-Dec-16 18:03:33

I have no choice, I have to stay up because my dog hates fireworks, otherwise I would be tucked up in bed!

watermeadow Sun 04-Dec-16 14:34:39

I did stay up once, about 50 years ago. Nowadays midnight is the middle of my night's sleep and when I get up at 5 ish the new year feels exactly the same as the old one.

HannahLoisLuke Sun 04-Dec-16 09:09:58

50 years ago I had to leave a New Year's Eve party to give birth to my lovely daughter (at home)
The Scottish midwife was grumpy at being called out and remarked that she hoped I hadn't called her out on a wild goose chase!
My daughter arrived an hour later at 6am.
But to return to the original question. Sometimes I'm out at a family party but otherwise I sit up in bed and watch Jools Holland.

NfkDumpling Sun 04-Dec-16 08:14:35

Nope! We generally have a DGC or two staying so their parents can go out and as they're up with the lark, it's an ordinary night for us.

We did share a bottle of champagne in bed for 2000 - but that was before DGC.

Lilyflower Sun 04-Dec-16 04:55:43

My sister and her family are extroverts and very sociable and like to go out and mix with crowds at New Year and my DD is the same. My DH and I, however, like to have a nice, quiet dinner in with some good fizz, watch a film and go to bed. Sometimes we don't make it until midnight but we no longer have to feel guilty about this which is lovely.

We are usually at the coast in Devon and we have often spent New Year's Eve listening to some cracking, dramatic equinoctial storms.

aitch Sat 03-Dec-16 23:55:25

My mum died on new years eve so it feel a bit sacrilageous to celebrate that anniversary but we do have a few quiet moments that remember that anniversary, spelling errors here are solely due to the 3rd Baileys (apologies for irrelevance - but mum was never an apologist for convention)We all (remaining) get together and raise a glass to all our lovely forbears and go forward as we do as best as we can In my book - "That's Life" works for me ( nothing to stop a quiet tear drop, here we go - "Nostalgia" fill in your own blanks()Love to all with same type stuff

Superopa Sat 03-Dec-16 20:51:52

Oh the scottish tradition , i remember having to watch the tv with dancing and whatever, with my parents and friends. As soon as i could go out i met up with old school mates and went to Trafalgar Square on numerous occasions, and then getting the night bus home. After getting married more often than not i was working on News Years Eve. Now its a glass of wine or two and to bed, we then listen to the radio till midnight.

joannewton46 Sat 03-Dec-16 19:52:18

We always see the New Year in but we don't normally go to bed till 2am anyway.

What I do insist on is actively letting the New Year in. I go outside a couple of minutes before 12 then bring money (£1), salt and a piece of coal into the house just after midnight. There was a time when several of us would have a chat whilst waiting for the clock to chime, now it's just me.

I don't know where the tradition comes from (Scotland?) but we always did it when I was a child in Sheffield. It represents bringing wealth, food and warmth into the house for the coming year. It really should be a dark haired person but it's left to me with my grey hair to do it.

annifrance Sat 03-Dec-16 16:46:57

I can't remember a New Years Eve when I haven't partied. Either chez nous or with friends. I love it. Not this year though as DD is here with family and we have to leave early morning for their flight home to Blighty. But a joy to have them here so not complaining. we will put the Smalls to bed and have a civilised dinner for the four of us and toast the New Year in Polish style and get to bed. Happy.

dancingnana1 Sat 03-Dec-16 16:30:59

We always stay up. Dh and I help run a hogmanay ceilidh for about 55 people. We see in the bells and then wind our way home about 12.45 am .We come home,have a toast to the new year and then in bed for 2am.

inishowen Sat 03-Dec-16 15:26:11

When we were young, my hubby and I had a row on New Years Eve. I stormed off to bed. At midnight I heard him pop the champagne cork! I was furious as I'd won the champagne in a competition, and he drank the lot.

sue1169 Sat 03-Dec-16 15:13:40

ALWAYS party with friends and stumble home early hours between 3-5a.m...love it?

Legs55 Sat 03-Dec-16 14:11:43

Probably go to bed as normal , that's usually between 11 & 12 but not too bothered about seeing in the New Year - that's what being on your own does to you tchgrin

Unless neighbours decide to have a party (unlikely, they were in bed at 9.30 last year) & think my other neighbour will be away. No longer get drunken phone calls from DD after midnight tchgrin

Niobe Sat 03-Dec-16 13:44:54

Usually we go to bed as normal unless we are invited out but this year we have got tickets for the fireworks in London. DH decided to apply because he reckoned that we are still fit to trek into town and back in the middle of the night but by next year you never know what you will be able to do. For the same reason we are planning a holiday to China in 2017. Do it while we are relatively fit and healthy as you never know what is around the corner.

BonnieBlooming Sat 03-Dec-16 12:52:21

Having had a series of bad years I now hate New Year as I am always fearful of what it will bring. This year has been better but generally I would rather ignore the whole New Year thing.

paddyann Sat 03-Dec-16 12:45:39

we've always been the go to house at New Year so can be half a dozen or twenty five people ,we never know,we still do the First Footing with the traditional things,Salt(for money) Coal (for heat) whisky and fruit cake ( for food and drink.I still use the same piece of coal my late Dad brought to our first house 42 New Years ago,We usually select the tallest darket person in the room and send them outside at about 4 minutes to midnight ,then when the bells have rung we let them back in.Dont see mmany neighbours about nowadays but the streets used to be really busy after midnight even just a few years ago .A lot of people locally seem to go to the organised events now

GrandmaMoira Sat 03-Dec-16 12:32:19

I no longer stay up. Since I was widowed I see no point in sitting up indoors on my own past my normal bedtime. If I was invited out somewhere (with a prebooked taxi home) I would go.

Anya Sat 03-Dec-16 12:24:42

Too many painful memories associated with New Years Eve. Would want to get it over with as soon as possible.

HaywardGrey Sat 03-Dec-16 12:14:38

Bitter sweet this year. We lost our last dog in May so for the first time in many years we wont have to stay up trying to calm our frightened girl. Hopefully we will be tucked up asleep. Last year it was 1.30 a.m. before I turned in.

goldengirl Sat 03-Dec-16 12:03:59

Not usually. I get too tired! Now in my yoof.......wink

Beammeupscottie Sat 03-Dec-16 11:13:41

We go, every year, to the New Year's Eve at the Symphony Hall, Birmingham. It is fabulous. We sing Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory and have indoor fireworks and balloons at midnight. The only snag is getting home through reveller's traffic. We roll in about three!