New Year's Eve is pretty generic-although there is a big event downtown, with performers in many venues, for which you buy a button for general admittance-but it is COLD so we have never gone. Tomorrow, however, we eat pork roast and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes and applesauce, all to bring us prosperity. In other parts of the US there are other foods-my daughter's housemate must have black-eyed peas.

veer, the older I get, the more I like home. We do get a table of appetizer-like foods - shrimp, cheeses, wine, etc. but we stay home. I much prefer to go out to dinner on a quieter night of the year, me not being one for crowds.

My sister has gone to Times Square in New York City for New Year's Eve in the past. She said it was wall to wall people and that even had she wanted to leave, she could not have gotten out of the massive throngs of people. No thank you. At the ripe ol' age of 41, I'd much rather stay home.

Does this sound boring? It's rather nice at home. All the shrimp I can eat, too.
PAM

Yes cece! How could I have forgotten the pork and sauerkraut?? With buttered egg noodles.

PAM

The last 5 New Year's Eve I had done exactly the same. Cuddled up on the couch with a small glass of Bailey's scratching Bailey's belly as we watch the ball drop on TV. This is after eating the customary sauerkraut and porkchops.....though only a porkchop for Bailey. I learn the hard way a few years ago Bailey and sauerkraut don't mix. Let's just say the aroma in the house was not the most pleasant. Bailey's backend would explode with a toxic gas which would be enough to peel the paint off the walls. The funniest thing was.....he would scare himself every time he let out a 'f*rt". Kept looking at his behind in absolute amazement.

We have a watch night service at my church with candlelight communion service at midnight. It's such a nice way to start a new year. Then some of us go out for breakfast afterwards.

Here, we have black eyed peas for luck and cabbage for money on New Year's Day.

Here in West TX, my DH is working tonight (he's a police officer and on SWAT) so expects his night to be busy with alcoholic people beating each other up. As for me, I am planning on dog sitting my neighbors' three dogs (along with the two we have already) and reading a book. I am determined to finish the Little House on the Prairie series before I go back to work so am trying hard to read my little eyeballs out.

Happy new year to all!

No plans. Staying at home. Perhaps we'll open that bottle of champagne that's in the fridge (this was a gift; we're not champagne drinkers, but I like my vino). Maybe we'll netflix a movie or watch one on cable. After that, the little one and I will probably go to bed while my older daughter and hubby stay up to watch the peach drop.

Lemonhead, sending thoughts that your husband stays safe and doesn't encounter any excessive unruliness.

Forgot to mention, dear husband is fixing pork ribs and cabbage. yum. In fact, I'm waiting for dinner right now!

My DH and I are supervising a pre-teen boy sleepover party (lots of eating, playing with a variety of electronics and periodic running/jumping around) and I'm baking cookies for a family New Year's Day dinner tomorrow. Dinner will involve that aforementioned pork and saurkraut, but instead of mashed potatoes we'll have pierogi.

Every "quiet" New Year's Eve, I resolve to get my act together for next year and host a party for families but never manage it. One year, we went to a First Night celebration like Cc referenced which was fun but interested the adults more than the young'uns.

A safe and happy New Year to all of you!

Fireworks canceled in Baltimore due to wind.

Happy New Year to my forum friends. I had a quiet evening after wandering around the mall during the afternoon. I went for some fresh baked bread and came home with a bag of Xmas Decorations that the department store were selling at 75% off normal price! I had not put up a tree as I spent Xmas at my daughter's home but now I had to try out the new gorgeous ornaments at previous 'you've got to be joking' prices on the stylised metal tree that found its way into my shopping trolley as well.
Raymaj: I love Baileys too and also once had a toxic dog, small but lethal in an enclosed space like in a car on the freeway when you cannot stop. Fun, hey?

Georgia -

Thanks for your good thoughts about my DH and his job as SWAT operator. He came home late and with only a few stories to tell about his night so nothing too major occurred - just the normal fights fueled by alcohol and stupidity.

I read until midnight and then went to bed. My little eyes were very tired, but golly gosh, I love to read. Only a few more days of freedom until I return to the office - sigh. I love this time off.

Chiming in late to wish everyone here a wonderful 2009. In the South, where I live, it is traditional to eat Hoppin John, which is black-eyed peas and pork rind cooked together, for good luck. Am not sure where this originated, but yesterday in the store, folks were sure buying the peas!

In Williamsburg, VA, there is a tradition of First Night on New Year's Eve. It is a non-alcoholic event, with entertainment for both adults and children: music, dance, story-telling, drama, etc. It is very popular and other communities have copied it, in our area.

The view of the fireworks is always spectacular if one is on the James River, as well.

My DH and I spent New Years with our 2 dogs and grandpuppy(as babysitters), while single DD went to a party with friends, watching the ball drop in NY. We all cuddled up on our huge bed with the gas fire on and glasses of ice wine-yum. Not very exciting I'm afraid, but perfect for us and the pups.

This is my first time here and your post caught my eye. I liked the Dickens post. We on the other hand are boring. We get sparkling grape juice, junk food, movies, wii games, and books. Those of us reading books try to finish the book we are on before New Years Day.New Year new book.Dorky, but it can get funny went it becomes a race between my daughter and I.
My grandmother says that what you do on New Year's Day, sets the mood for the rest of the year and that is what you will do the most of the whole year to come (I think I'm in trouble...)but we do the cabbage and peas too.

Anyway, Happy New Year!
Angela

Hello Angela, make a resolution to keep on posting here at RP. What book did you finish before the end of 2008?

I don't think there are any traditions of eating special food on N Y's Day here in the UK. I presume the sauerkraut goes back to the German influence in PA. Do any of you make it from 'scratch'?

No New Year food traditions in Australia that I know of. The whole Xmas food thing changed here when we stopped having a traditional hot meal and went for the sensible cold meats, seafood and salad. My own New Year food thing is buying marked-down exotic imported goodies to try, like S'mores and unusual preserves.

Vee, my mother used to make sauerkraut. We had a big vegetable garden, cabbage was easy to grow, and it was a waste-not, want-not time. I buy mine in nice jars at the grocery.

Carolyn, a very citified country girl.