The basic elements of New Year’s Eve at home are some festive lights, wonderful food and drink, and a stellar movie playlist.
Set the stage with a few candles and fanciful light strings to brighten dark corners and halls. Inexpensive patio lanterns or micro lights in mason jars will brighten these areas. Aim for even but low light throughout the house to avoid using strong overhead lights or lamps.
Before dinner, consider taking a few minutes to write an email to a friend or two. Let them know you’re thinking of them with warm thoughts for the year ahead. This is a perfect opportunity to begin talking about getting together for summer holidays.
After dinner, dress up in warm clothes and take a walk through the neighbourhood. Enjoy the light displays one last time before they start to come down. Light-seeing can be more fun for kids when they have a short scavenger hunt list to take with them. See if they can spot a reindeer, a snowman display, or any other unusual decorations that you may have spotted on the way home.
Little ones will be ready for bed after a warm bubble bath and a story. Surprise them with a little celebration gift such as a new bath toy or a bedtime story book. Wrap the surprise in leftover holiday paper.
Older kids can choose what they would like to do before bed. An old-fashioned board game such as Monopoly or Stock Ticker is fun. Or, teach them a new card game that they can share with their friends.
For a snack, everyone loves leftover short bread cookies and cocoa made with real chocolate melted in it. It’s a rich and tasty treat. Dress it up with marshmallows or whipped cream. Flavourings such as peppermint, cherry, and vanilla make a cup of cocoa something new and delightful.
When it’s time for a movie, consider some of the classic New Years titles. The website, IMDb, has a list of the best and most popular titles that people like to watch every year. There is a good selection of new and old films that will suit everyone.
Adults might be ready for a very special, late night snack and a drink. Charcuterie and champagne are the quintessential New Years fare. It’s not too filling and very satisfying. When the clock strikes 12, you may want to sing Auld Lang Syne with your favourite movie stars.
Happy New Year! I look forward to serving you in 2023.