Simple Ideas for New Year’s Eve Celebrations

Are you seeking some simple ideas for New Year’s Eve?

A way to celebrate, especially if there are kids in the family, without breaking the bank?

Maybe you’d rather not be on the road on December 31?

But how can we make it a night of simple ideas for New Year’s Eve without being boring?

(Though, maybe you’d rather go to bed early?)

Simple Ideas for New Year’s Eve–Family style

Particularly when we had a young family and no money, we needed some simple ideas.

They knew something was up, but no one (except maybe them) wanted to stay up late.

Here are some suggestions:

• Eat dinner early and plan for popcorn and sparkling cider later in the evening.
• Movie night. If your kids are older, maybe movies based around a theme. Possible themes: Lord of the Rings, Babe, Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, Flubber films or whatever is suitable for your kids. (FYI, A Lord of the Rings-extended edition marathon takes 12 hours).
• Simple ideas for New Year’s Eve also could involve taping the New Year’s ball falling in Times Square and showing it to gullible children early.
• Consider watching the ball fall live if you live on the West Coast. (The gullibility and ages of your children may vary).

New Year’s Eve–for Book Lovers

Why bother?

Eat and drink anything you like from the comfort of a chair under a good lamp.

Simple Ideas for Folks who love Board Games

We’ve spent numerous New Year’s Eves playing games until midnight.

In our case it was usually bridge, but when the children were home, we’d play board games.

Plan age-appropriate games with the whole family participating, in teams if necessary. We’ve enjoyed game nights with Uno, Bridge, Life, Monopoly, and even Candyland.

If you’re got older kids or adults, consider games like Settlers of Cataan.

We’ve spent hilarious evenings playing Pictionary or Charades.

Prayer Watch for New Year’s Eve?

Throughout the ages, Christians have used very simple ideas for New Year’s Eve and held night watch services.

One year, we read through an entire book of the Bible with a missionary friend.

Our church holds a service early on New Year Eve involving prayers and singing.

Some Christian communities use the evening to pray for their church, friends, cities, states, and nations.

What better time to ask for God’s blessings and wisdom than as an old year ends and a new one begins?

Oswald Chambers’ simple ideas for New Year’s Eve

Oswald Chambers and his wife Biddy usually held a night-watch. Chambers preached and they finished the evening in prayer until midnight..

On his final New Year’s Eve, Chambers taught on “Finish 1916,” Matthew 26:45-46.

He explained it as “The Irreparable Past–Sleep on now . . . [and] The Irresistible Future–‘Arise, let us be going.'”

When the clock struck midnight, he flipped it over to a new message:

1917, a great New Year to you all.

‘And God shall wipe away all tears.’ Revelation 21:4.

Oswald Chambers: His Life and Work, third edition, p 279.

Novel ways to celebrate

We attended a black-tie wedding one New Year’s Eve. Sure, we drank plenty of champagne, but my nephew knew our family well.

After the confetti, dancing, and salutes, they served In-N-Out Burgers.

I don’t remember what time we went to bed.

Another year, we flew home from a camping trip in New Zealand.

We crossed the dateline at midnight–and had a 48-hour New Year’s Eve.

Filled with energy when I got home, I finished the laundry and balanced the checkbook just before the year ended a second time!

(Not recommended).

Ending one year, beginning another

In the end, New Year’s Eve is simply the turn of a calendar page.

Do you need simple ideas to move forward in 2023, or any year?

Is it time to finish writing in your journal for this year and crack open a new one for next year?

Perhaps the new year could mark a new daily devotional?

Some people make New Year’s resolutions. Other friends select a word to focus on in their new year.

As for me, going to bed on December 31 with a good book is the most appealing.

Unless someone challenges me to a rousing game, say, of Candyland?

Happy New Year.

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