New Year’s Eve: not just “another night”

At this time of year you are one of two types of people. You’re an NYE lover, or an NYE hater. Join a club and stick with it, seems to be the name of the game. If there’s one subject which is guaranteed to start heated debates it’s the merits of celebrating New Year’s Eve. Those who are anti-NYE see it as “just another night” and nothing to get in a fuss about. They hate the over-priced drinks and the inability to get served in a rammed pub. They don’t see the point of staying up late just to see a clock chime – what’s more, the very fact that other people do see the point seems to irritate them.

I am unashamedly an NYE lover. Any excuse for a party and I’m all ears. When I was a kid I loved the excitement of being allowed to stay up late. I’ve always been one for a sense of occasion, so it was a huge treat to be allowed a glimpse into the world of grown-ups and watch the fireworks on TV when it was pitch black outside. We used to go to my grandparents, my huge family of cousins and uncles and aunties piled into the living room, eating neverending buffet food and arguing over lively games of charades. New Year’s Eves were ACE.

Then I turned into a teenager and NYE was all about hanging out with my mates. We’d wander into town – a huge gang of us – and watch the fireworks. Everyone would be in a good mood. There would inevitably be some excitement over which boy you’d end up kissing (if indeed you kissed anyone at all) and then we’d stay up until the early hours discussing said kiss in much detail. Before the event we’d spend hours plastering glitter all over our faces and deciding on the best deenie boppers from Claire’s Accessories to wear. Classy.

As a young adult I was still firmly in the NYE lover camp. While some of my (often cooler) mates shunned the event and refused to commit to anything ticket-based, I’d have my plans set in stone weeks ahead. I’d look forward to the big night out and didn’t mind shelling out a bit more on drinks or entry. I enjoyed the atmosphere of a busy bar and would take great pleasure from finding an outfit for the night in the post-Christmas sales.

Then I became a parent. And things predictably changed yet again. When you have young children it’s near impossible to find a babysitter for the busiest night of the year. But that doesn’t mean I stopped celebrating. In fact, when I was pregnant with Frog, when midnight chimed into 2010, the NLM got down on one knee and proposed. So New Year’s Eve will always be a bit special, no matter how we choose to mark the occasion.

This year we’ll do as we’ve done for the past couple of years. NYE will be spent with family, having a mini party involving champagne and good food. We’ll stay up late and play games, watching the clock chime midnight. And this year, as with the last, our biggest girl will be allowed to stay up late too.

Frog’s already chosen her outfit for the evening. A beautiful party dress from Monsoon – the beaded Estella dress in navy – with matching sparkly silver shoes and butterfly hairclips.

The dress manages to get that tricky balance between being comfortable (no scratchy sequins underarm or itchy fabric) and pretty, with intricate beading detailing and a cute dipped hemline. The shoes are so sparkly you can see them from ten miles off, which is pretty much the most important factor in my five year old’s choice of party footwear.

Having a special outfit for the evening has helped to add to the sense of excitement for the big night, and Frog has been chattering non-stop about wearing her finery and staying up late. It remains to be seen how long past 7pm she’ll actually last…

How about you – which NYE camp do you fall into? Lover or hater?