We may not be able to gather and go all out this year but there are different ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, containment measures and movement restrictions are still in effect in many countries. We may have to modify our “parties,” traditions, and interactions, but it doesn’t mean our celebrations can’t be meaningful.
Here are some ideas that will safely allow our families to welcome 2021 with fun:
Have a dance party.
Turn up the volume of your audio and clear the space in the living room for a dance party. You can play games that involve music and dancing. If you want a bit of competition, why not hold your own lip sync battle? If you have dance games on your PlayStation or Nintendo Switch, New Year‘s Eve is the best time to play them.
Host a video call with loved ones.
Street parties and firework shows have been replaced by virtual gatherings. Gather your family and friends on Zoom and Google Meet. Share your best memories of the year with one another. Show what you have on your New Year’s Eve table.
Make a virtual toast.
Bring out the champagne glasses and organize a Zoom party with friends and relatives. While the year has been challenging, making a virtual toast with them to acknowledge and remember the best parts of the year will make the celebration more memorable. Allow every person to express what they are thankful for and what they are looking forward to. Take a photo of the session with all of you holding a champagne glass.
Bake something for the first time.
Or try baking for the first time! Make it a bonding for you and your family. If you’re able, bake a lot of goodies and put them in festive boxes. Send them as gifts to your neighbors, friends, families, and even strangers. Just make sure you are following health protocols and physical distancing measures.
Experiment with your New Year’s decoration.
Not into decorating? Why not go out of your comfort zone and see how fun it is to put glitter everywhere? Make the design festive. Choose a theme, a color palette, or whatever comes to your mind. This will be a fun activity especially for your kids. You can also build a backdrop for New Year’s pictures you will post on social media.
Be loud.
Party horns, car horns, pots, pans, and musical instruments you don’t know how to play – bring out everything you can to make noise and celebrate the new year. Be creative and have fun. You can form your own “orchestra” even for just one night. Sing to your heart’s content. This is one of the ways to celebrate New Year's Eve at home.
Play a game.
Play games at home like charade, heads up, or who am I? Go for fun board games like Scattegories, Bingo, and Family Feud. With people you can’t personally be with at New Year’s Eve, you can play games over video chat --Zoom, Skype, and Let’s Roam.
Dress up.
You do not have to wear pajamas just because you are at home. You can turn your New Year’s Eve into a costume party with the family. Wear your grandest holiday dress and your boldest New Year’s Eve makeup. Accessories, experiment, and surprise your family with your outfit. You can also choose a theme for the family.
Prepare a festive dinner.
Since we will not be able to spend New Year’s Eve the way we prefer, why not pour all your energy into preparing the best dinner of the year. Try unique, delicious New Year’s Eve recipes. Make the cooking session a family activity. Assign different tasks to your spouse and kids in the kitchen, from preparing the ingredients to setting up the table.
Have a movie marathon.
You can never go wrong with your cozy couch, snacks, champagne, and a set of New Year’s Eve movies to enjoy. You can even turn the lights off and light up some candles to set the mood. Don’t forget the blanket and pillows for complete comfort.
Make a charcuterie board.
The charcuterie board became popular this year. It’s an elegant assembly of different hard and soft cheeses, meat like ham, sausage, and bacon, and other types of food: crackers, nuts, fruit, cheese, and dips. Pickles, olives, and dips are also nice additions. Why not impress your family with this spread?
Have a cooking contest.
Since New Year’s Eve is centered on food, why not take the fun to another level and have a cooking contest? Make the best appetizer, main course, or dessert. This way, the family’s cook does not have to be tired all night and everyone else has something to do.
Watch virtual fireworks shows.
There are local leaders who are staging firework shows in a safe set up, which can be viewed by people at home. Check your local community or city and see if there is a streaming party that features firework shows. For instance, San Antonio, Texas will hold the Celebrate SA! Show fireworks show, which comes with performances, virtually.
Play video games.
If you have a laptop, phone, or any game console, playing games is one of the fun things you can do at your New Year’s Eve celebration at home. Video games that are about race, mystery, or fantasy should make the event at home exciting.
Have a sleepover in another part of the house.
It’s your house, and you can sleep anywhere. Set up your pillows and blankets in the living room and have a sleepover with your roommates or families. Watch a movie, have some snacks, and just wait till you all pass out. To make it more fun for your kids, you can camp in your backyard. Set up a tent. Cook food on the grill. Have a small bonfire. Tell your children stories or watch the night sky together. This is one of the unique ways to celebrate New Year's Eve at home.
These are some of the ways to celebrate New Year's Eve 2021 at home. It does not have to be extravagant, but these are moments you can cherish forever.
