8 Ideas for Welcoming the New Year
Host a champagne gathering, enjoy a family game night, take time for reflection or have a festive brunch
From the simple pleasure of hanging up a fresh new calendar to late-night feasts and off-the-wall traditions (polar bear swim, anyone?), there are myriad ways to welcome the new year. Perhaps you’d rather stay in for an evening of quiet reflection, or invite friends over for brunch on New Year’s Day — whatever your celebration style, these eight ideas are fun and festive alternatives to the notoriously expensive (and sometimes disappointing) New Year’s Eve dinner out.
2. Lucky-Food Party
Looking for a more casual alternative to the typical fancy dinner party? Host a potluck lucky-food party. Email friends in advance with a food and drinks sign-up sheet, and commit to providing anything left on the list after sign-ups. Here are a few ideas:
Looking for a more casual alternative to the typical fancy dinner party? Host a potluck lucky-food party. Email friends in advance with a food and drinks sign-up sheet, and commit to providing anything left on the list after sign-ups. Here are a few ideas:
- Black-eyed peas and greens, to symbolize prosperity in the new year
- Long noodles for a long life
- Coin-shaped cookies
- Pork or other rich foods, for a year of riches
- 12 grapes to be eaten when the clock strikes midnight, representing good luck in each month of the year ahead
- Ring-shaped foods (bagels, doughnuts or ring cake) to symbolize a year coming full circle
- Fish for good luck
3. An Evening of Toasts
Ask guests to come prepared with one (or more) toasts to share during the evening. They can be meaningful, personal or just plain fun.
As you’re the host, consider it your duty to kick things off. To spark ideas, search online ahead of time for fun New Year’s Eve toasts, print them on strips of paper and toss the papers into a punch bowl where partygoers can read from them throughout the night.
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Ask guests to come prepared with one (or more) toasts to share during the evening. They can be meaningful, personal or just plain fun.
As you’re the host, consider it your duty to kick things off. To spark ideas, search online ahead of time for fun New Year’s Eve toasts, print them on strips of paper and toss the papers into a punch bowl where partygoers can read from them throughout the night.
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4. Midnight Supper
There is something especially romantic about sitting down to a candlelit table at midnight. After the noisy fun of your New Year’s Eve party culminates at midnight, invite guests to gather at the table to share a meal as well as their hopes for the new year.
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There is something especially romantic about sitting down to a candlelit table at midnight. After the noisy fun of your New Year’s Eve party culminates at midnight, invite guests to gather at the table to share a meal as well as their hopes for the new year.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
5. Ultimate Family Game Night
For families with younger kids, just making it to midnight on New Year’s Eve can be quite a feat.
Keep everyone happy with a big pile of games to choose from, a fun movie, tasty finger foods and festive drinks — sparkling cider for the kids, champagne for the grown-ups. Props are a must, so be sure to provide noisemakers, funny hats and fluffy boas for dressing up.
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For families with younger kids, just making it to midnight on New Year’s Eve can be quite a feat.
Keep everyone happy with a big pile of games to choose from, a fun movie, tasty finger foods and festive drinks — sparkling cider for the kids, champagne for the grown-ups. Props are a must, so be sure to provide noisemakers, funny hats and fluffy boas for dressing up.
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6. Get Outside
Being outdoors at night (in winter, no less!) is sure to make a New Year’s celebration memorable. Here are a few ideas:
Being outdoors at night (in winter, no less!) is sure to make a New Year’s celebration memorable. Here are a few ideas:
- For a short jaunt outdoors, head out to make a special wish upon a star for the coming year.
- If you have a fire bowl or pit in your backyard, consider having a bonfire. Invite your guests to write down something they want to let go of from the outgoing year, then toss the slips of paper into the fire.
- For the truly adventurous, join a polar bear plunge. This event is held on New Year’s Day in many places around the U.S., sometimes as a benefit for charity; groups of people gather to take a dip in freezing-cold water at the beach.
7. Quiet Evening of Reflection
Not into staying up late? Get cozy at home instead. Turn down the lighting, put on relaxing music and take a long soak in the tub. Treat yourself to a new journal for the coming year and spend some time during the evening writing in it. If you find yourself stuck, try exploring one of these topics:
Not into staying up late? Get cozy at home instead. Turn down the lighting, put on relaxing music and take a long soak in the tub. Treat yourself to a new journal for the coming year and spend some time during the evening writing in it. If you find yourself stuck, try exploring one of these topics:
- Write a letter from your future self describing where you are in your life at this time next year.
- List what you are ready to let go of from the previous year.
- List fun things you want to experience in the year ahead.
- Choose a word for the year ahead.
- If you’re feeling crafty, make a mood board to go along with the observations in your journal.
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8. New Year’s Day Brunch
Skip the New Year’s Eve fuss and focus your entertaining skills on New Year’s Day instead. Host your friends and family for a cheerful brunch to welcome the new year — they will be especially grateful for the pampering after overindulging during the night before. Offer fancy water with sliced fruit, freshly squeezed juices or smoothies, freshly baked goods and something hot from the oven. Or mix up a bowl of batter, heat the waffle iron and let guests make their own waffles.
Share: How do you welcome the new year? Tell us in the Comments.
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Skip the New Year’s Eve fuss and focus your entertaining skills on New Year’s Day instead. Host your friends and family for a cheerful brunch to welcome the new year — they will be especially grateful for the pampering after overindulging during the night before. Offer fancy water with sliced fruit, freshly squeezed juices or smoothies, freshly baked goods and something hot from the oven. Or mix up a bowl of batter, heat the waffle iron and let guests make their own waffles.
Share: How do you welcome the new year? Tell us in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
Whether you want to celebrate with just that special person in your life or fill your house with friends, New Year’s Eve is the perfect excuse to pull out all of the stops. Champagne and oysters? Why not?
Indulging in these luxuries at home is far more cost conscious than ordering them in a restaurant. A note on the invitation to dress “to the nines” should be enough encouragement to get people in their party clothes.
For extra amusement scatter an assortment of fun props across a console table — boas, tiaras, hats, noisemakers, horns — and invite guests to help themselves. As always, be a thoughtful host and provide festive nonalcoholic beverages for your guests who do not drink.
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