New Year's Eve Melancholy

My husband doesn’t really get excited about anything and New Year’s Eve doesn’t interest him. He just falls asleep. I do remember our parties in the East End and hearing the boats at midnight sound their horns. The good old days.

My birthday is near New Year so it’s always a time for starting over for me. Last year I was very unhappy about my weight, so set about losing 40 pounds. I felt much younger and livelier and had some enjoyable trips with fun people. Now I have just been diagnosed with something requiring major surgery in a couple of weeks. 2019 was my best year ever. I’ll tackle 2020 in the same spirit with no regrets.

New Year’s Eve doesn’t make sense to me. I can imagine that if it’s been a very bad year for you or the new one promises to be challenging, it would be worse. But personally it just seems that people get drunk and stay up late ?and you can do that any time! It usually passes me by. And I would rather that all the countries that spend on fireworks gave that money to the starving people in the world. Now that would be something to celebrate!

Have never bothered to celebrate New Year's Eve and this year will be no exception. However after a lovely Christmas with my daughter's, their husbands and my 4 grandchildren ages from 14 to 19 I am feeling rather sad now as it may be the last Christmas we are altogether as I am 81 and my husband is 87 and not well

Yes I remember all that as I live in NE Scotland too, Mum would cut the black bun up to offer to the neighbours who first footed, they each brought a bottle and offered it round but always took it away with them when they left !
We had a neighbour who played the accordian and it was really nice as my brother played the piano too,fond memories of characters we have lost,
Now we just go to bed and treat it like any other night,
New year for me is remembering times gone by and people Ive lost and yes 1970 seems like yesterday , I cant believe its 50 years ago !!

I look forward to spring in the UK in March,I dont like New Years Eve much, as it is miserable where we live,however I always wait until 1 am here then turn on the TV and watch New Years Eve celebrations from the UK, I vow every year I will be there next New Years Eve, lets hope this happens one year.Happy New Year everyone wherever you are.

I know what you mean - there is always a sense of melancholy involved with New Year, especially as I get older.

I will be "celebrating" by getting into my PJs and dressing gown, switching all the lights off...and watching neighbours fireworks.!

New year eve, just another day to me. Go to bed at normal time, just text family/ friends happy New year before going to bed.

You are not alone I have never liked New Years Eve. For me it's like leaving the comfort of the year I know to begin a new one and I am not good with change. Last year we went out for a meal early but were home and in bed by 11 complete bliss for me and this year much the same. It is only going from one day to the next really but I hate making a big deal of it,much happier sleeping through midnight. Hope it helps knowing others feel the same, take care xx

Your definitely not on your own disliking New Years Eve, I get weepy because my daughters have grown up and so have most of the grandkids, I know it’s silly but me and hubby usually have a nice meal at home and go to bed before 12

Ah, readymeals, I like your style. Oh how I love a bit of normal.My classes start up again, my paid work and voluntary work....thanks God.

New Years Eve is just another normal day as I do not go out any where anymore. Yesterday my son asked if I want to go to have a meal somewhere to keep him happy I said yes but I hope he forgets about it by Tuesday as I am getting set in my ways and would rather stay in.

I like to get in P. J. 's by 10 p.m. and then bed for 11 p.m. but this year I already know I have to stay up until after 12 p.m. as my house backs onto some large houses where people of different cultures live and they seem to adore loud explosive fireworks which are a nightmare to my dogs. I say live and let live but when these fireworks are still banging and crashing at 1 p.m. it goes beyond a joke for me.
One of my dogs in now blind but has excellent hearing these fireworks are scary and frightening to her and last year I was sitting drinking tea and eating toast and comforting her with all the noise and had T.V. switched on etc; long after I even wanted to be up. I have got my pet therapy remedy ready and it helps but once these fireworks start at 12 o'clock that will be it so I am a bit p....d ! off thinking about it.
At least it is only one night that is if I don't count Eid (the muslim) ceremony Diwali and then Bonfire night we get it all where I live.

After all that whingeing from me A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR to all and may all your troubles be few. All the best for 2020 I am not a complete miserable old person.

Good to know I'm not alone feeling this way about NY's Eve. Have never enjoyed the parties and celebrations. Did once have a stop off in Sydney on my way home and asked the hotel receptionist what time the fireworks started - she told me the wrong time and so as I went out to see them hordes of people were just returning having already seen them - just not meant to enjoy NYE.

I’m not a big fan of new year celebrations and understand the melancholy that people are talking about. This year DH and I are going to a local restaurant for a nice meal and then home. I find I’m better if I’m doing something nice for a treat.

New years eve for me is the promise of lighter evenings and less dark mornings. Where it seems the lights in my house have been on for ever.

we always celebrated Hogmanay more than Xmas since all family sisters, parents, etc all gone now, i try to pass the traditions on but usually I'm alone on new years eve, I once drove up to Scotland and stayed the night in the car, for old times sake but usually I put on a good scary movie have a nice meal and toast all those ghosts I share the evening with.

I too know exactly how you feel. I have never really liked New Year. When I was a child, there was always an elderly aunt feeling sad and now I know why.

The older I get, the more people I remember who are no longer amongst us, and unfortunately it seems harder and harder to make new good friends.

I have to make an effort to seem happy at the New Year and push sad thoughts out of my mind.

Let's hope 2020 will be a good year for us all!

I wish peace and content to everyone as the year changes.
Happiness is perhaps too much to ask - it comes rarely to most of us, because life is a continuous procession of change and loss, often accompanied by pain and grief.
On the other hand, each year brings us new opportunities, new friendships and even new lives to treasure, so though the uphill walk of life is hard and weary, the view from the top is magnificent!

I too dislike New Year. I think it’s something to do with getting older. Probably we fear illness as we age and let’s face it most of us in our late 60s and 70s have something wrong. We are always in bed before midnight and I’m just so pleased when all the fuss is over and we can get back to normal.

New year always makes me feel guilty and a failure. I tend to sum up my achievements and progress of the last year. They never meet the expectations and standards I set myself. Having survived and done a few things is never enough!

sarahellenwhitney, I am with you all the way! I look forward to the mornings getting lighter even more than the afternoons. Though there has been an enormous amount of sadness throughout my life I still feel an excitement of what a New Year may bring.

Every new year my mum used to write a list of all the people who had died during the year, and at just before midnight, she lit a candle, said her goodbyes and then burnt the paper in the candle flame, something i do now, it helps me x

It used to be the best night of the year for me.
Been there,done it all so now it’s pyjamas, cat on my knee , radio on and a good book. I hope it’s good, anyway.
DH loved new years. A big tot of Edradour and a watch of his new dvds was a very happy evening for him. Then watching the fireworks.
I will stay up if I can and raise a toast to him. Wine, not whiskey ?

I agree with Dollydinkum!
I think NYE is a big lot of fuss about nothing. We never go out and just sit on the sofa together holding the cats’ paws when those daft fireworks go off. Usually we go to bed at the normal time too.
I can’t see any reason to celebrate, it’s just another day. The arrival of spring is really something to celebrate!
Even when I wa younger

I love it . I get together again with family , enjoy good company , play games , always make a list of resolutions that we then laugh at the following year !!

And we reflect on the year just gone and celebrate all those from years gone by no longer with us .

The prospect of a new year stretching out before me with endless possibilities is exciting .