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Original poster

AIBU to ask why people hate NYE so much?

222 replies

Kat256M · 30/12/2023 17:22

Maybe not hate as such but people are just done with the festive spirit after the 26th. I am not British so it seems weird to me, we always used to celebrate NYE more than Christmas, the big family gathering is usually on January 1st.

Is it just that everyone is over it by then? Or because there seems to be more pressure on Christmas dinner? Just curious really.

OP posts:
tokesqueen · 30/12/2023 18:47

I loved it in my early twenties, we partied all over the country. Not so much now I'm fifties and have lost my parents and other family members. Makes me somewhat sad tbh and reminds me of people I miss. Also somewhat apprehensive for what the year ahead holds.

Cynical85 · 30/12/2023 18:47

Baldieheid · 30/12/2023 18:16

She's retired?? I've missed the last few at home as we've usually been down south, so watched the London show with the rellies.

I think tbh, the only folk now at Edinburgh hogmanay are tourists. That's certainly what friends who still live in town say. That last one I did was truly terrifying. The ones before were fun, but now...shudder.

Show quote history

Yes I'm sure it was someone else hosted last year but it's slipped my mind who!

I've had young children in the house for 20 years so it's been a long time since I've been out at Hogmanay (I don't miss it!) so I just do a wee buffet, play board games with the BBC Scotland on in the background and normally go to bed straight after the bells.

When I was child I loved it but as someone said, I think it's the lack of Community spirit now so it doesn't feel the same. The only reason I celebrate it is for the kids or else I probably wouldn't bother!

ManateeFair · 30/12/2023 18:48

Christmas, not New Year, is by far the bigger deal in most of the UK (perhaps less so in Scotland).

Christmas Day is usually the big family celebration here, and the celebrations go on all day. Celebrating on New Year’s Eve, though, tends to be about going out in the evening and seeing in the new year at midnight, more likely with friends than family, or having a party at your house. Obviously there are exceptions but it’s more thought of to be a big party night, rather than a family dinner kind of thing. Certainly for younger people, there’s an expectation that you’ll go out with friends until the early hours of the morning and that people will have a wild time and drink a lot.

However - that can mean it can feel a bit depressing or a let down for people who aren’t that keen on partying etc. It can mean having to buy tickets for venues that would usually be free to get into, everywhere is crowded etc. And the pressure to have a great time means it often ends up not living up to expectations. Plus, a lot of people are probably not at their most lively after over-indulging at Christmas.

I think a lot of people feel they have to socialise on New Year’s Eve just because they’d look like Billy No-Mates if they didn’t. When I was in my 20s I used to feel like not having anything to do for New Year meant I was a complete saddo and was embarrassing - even though I never actually enjoyed it when I went out for it!

When I met DP he confessed that he didn’t like going out for new year and we’ve always stayed in together every new year since, which I’ve always enjoyed.

Ejismyf · 30/12/2023 18:49

I use to like New Years eve when younger but I just can't be bothered drinking, staying up and the forced "happy new year" with cuddles to everyone and then be rough the next day and tired.

This year's worse as my mum died in November, fairly young still and very quickly.

Whilst I'm happy to be seeing the back of this horrendous year we have had, I'm also feeling quite sad at the realisation that my mums gone and won't ever see another year. I'm going to have a quiet one as don't think drinking is good for me just now and il have a walk along the beach new years day if the weather permits and a big family dinner on New Year's day.

LindyLou2020 · 30/12/2023 18:50

enchantedsquirrelwood · 30/12/2023 17:36

I think it's because there is pressure to do something, so if you don't, you feel inadequate/friendless/etc - and then that feeds into not liking it.

Nowadays I need my sleep so the fireworks are a right nuisance.

@enchantedsquirrelwood
Spot on!!!
Because I was chronically insecure when younger, I had to be seen to be doing something with people, anyone, on NYE!
The list of shitty parties I went to, because of FOMO, is a long one.
And if I hadn't been invited anywhere, I hosted parties myself, and more or less press-ganged people, some I hardly knew, into coming, to ensure I wouldn't be a Billy No-Mates 🙄
Even now, decades later, those feelings of being inadequate if not invited anywhere, can surface.
But fortunately I can have a word with myself and rise above it.
I'm sure that people plastering their gatherings all over social media now makes insecure people feel pretty shit, which is such a shame.
It's one bloody night!!!

Poem4funeralhelp · 30/12/2023 18:56

Tartantatooes · 30/12/2023 18:42

My friend is a PO , Apparently they kick and thump the doors , the din is horrendous then it dies down and they go back to what they were doing . This happens too when the football is on and England scores 😂

Show quote history

That is exactly what happens!

LindyLou2020 · 30/12/2023 18:57

ManateeFair · 30/12/2023 18:48

Christmas, not New Year, is by far the bigger deal in most of the UK (perhaps less so in Scotland).

Christmas Day is usually the big family celebration here, and the celebrations go on all day. Celebrating on New Year’s Eve, though, tends to be about going out in the evening and seeing in the new year at midnight, more likely with friends than family, or having a party at your house. Obviously there are exceptions but it’s more thought of to be a big party night, rather than a family dinner kind of thing. Certainly for younger people, there’s an expectation that you’ll go out with friends until the early hours of the morning and that people will have a wild time and drink a lot.

However - that can mean it can feel a bit depressing or a let down for people who aren’t that keen on partying etc. It can mean having to buy tickets for venues that would usually be free to get into, everywhere is crowded etc. And the pressure to have a great time means it often ends up not living up to expectations. Plus, a lot of people are probably not at their most lively after over-indulging at Christmas.

I think a lot of people feel they have to socialise on New Year’s Eve just because they’d look like Billy No-Mates if they didn’t. When I was in my 20s I used to feel like not having anything to do for New Year meant I was a complete saddo and was embarrassing - even though I never actually enjoyed it when I went out for it!

When I met DP he confessed that he didn’t like going out for new year and we’ve always stayed in together every new year since, which I’ve always enjoyed.

@ManateeFair
I posted something very, very similar before seeing your post.
What you have said - I couldn't have put it any better 👏

boraborainbovember · 30/12/2023 18:58

New Year for me is nothing to celebrate OP.
Another year older. Sense of time passing so quickly, the days flying by without me achieving everything I want to achieve.
The holidays are over, back to work. Same shit as the previous year.
Very little money having spent it on Christmas :p But also January is cold, dark and depressing.

I get happier when spring starts to come and it's a bit warmer but really CBA with NYE.

Btw I don't get the obsession with partying on NYE. It's just one day! I love partying, but when I want to party. When it's not cold and dark and rainy.

getthemfromlidlme · 30/12/2023 18:59

I'm not keen because it's another year I'm entering into without some of my children going with me Flowers

On a lighter note, I also dislike it because I try to change bad habits and New Year means I have to actually make good of what I said Grin

Felisenavedad · 30/12/2023 19:06

I don't overthink it and actually quite enjoy it, always have.

We stay in, pick a good film, nice dinner and then watch the fireworks at midnight. I like saying hello to a New Year. You can feel the spring in the air a bit on NY day too.

I do love winter though, Feb in particular is one of my favourite months so I'm always quite cheerful at this time of year.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 30/12/2023 19:07

When I was a child a friend of my mum would hold a party on NYE. The guest list was always the same and the evening took the same course each year. We would play the same games, eat the same food - us children would wash up and the tv would go on for the countdown. We did the same thing from the time I was 6 until I was 21 and no other NYE bash has been as good.

About 15 years ago the local 10 pin bowling centre started to do a family party. There was a disco, karaoke, soft play and various games. They kept a close eye on alcohol consumption and it was a safe place to be with the kids. Then as they got older they started to make their own plans and we stayed home but in recent years they decided that our house would be the party venue and they all came with their partners/spouses and we would have a takeaway and board games.

This year I don't think there are any plans for anyone to come over tomorrow night so it will be sitting on the sofa with a glass of wine and watching the Christmas TV we didn't get to see while the family were home.

Northernsouloldies · 30/12/2023 19:07

Hogmanay.. An excuse for drunken arseholes to be bigger arseholes. Bring in the bells, hae a wee dram, adverts and programmes become more tartanfied. Load o shite!! 😄.

OutYerEd · 30/12/2023 19:08

I never really liked New Year’s Eve. I’m another one who always did something when young because you had to be out ‘having fun’ or you were a loser.

I stopped all pretence of being interested when I became a parent and now, 20 years later, I just have no interest in drinking, staying up until late or being tired the next day.

I also shun all this ‘new year, new me’, resolution shit. It’s just not a big deal to me. I prefer a period of quiet and no pressure after the Christmas festivities and to hibernate a bit until it’s warmer and brighter.

PinkflowersWhiteBerries · 30/12/2023 19:10

Another Scot who really doesn’t care for NYE. I loved it in my teens/ twenties, but now I am in my sixties, I am done. I have done NYE at various places around the world. I do like a party, but having people I barely know and neighbours I would rather avoid, drinking themselves stupid to the background of Tartan TV is just boring.

can recommend the Stonehaven Fireballs as a way to see in the midnight hour, but weather and health & safety have taken a toll on that in the last few years.

HotChocolateWithCointreau · 30/12/2023 19:11

TwilightSkies · 30/12/2023 17:32

It’s grim. It’s the middle of winter. Cold, dark, everyone’s skint.
For me new year is the 1st of March. It FEELS fresh, new and hopeful.

That is my birthday and so many people have commented the same thing to me about that date!

Sunflowers098 · 30/12/2023 19:16

My tree is down. I'm working NYE and New Year's Day. I fully intend to be asleep when it becomes 2024. DD is out at a friend's for the night. I'm really looking forward to it! 😴😴😴

VivaVivaa · 30/12/2023 19:17

I’m not usually keen but I’m going to a wedding for this one which feels exciting! Due to tiny children we still wont be seeing in midnight though, I’ll be paying for it all of January otherwise…

pilates · 30/12/2023 19:18

It’s for the younguns.

For me, I think of who I’ve lost and it makes me feel a little sad and nostalgic.

Plus I’ve had enough of socialising by the 31st.

WildFlowerBees · 30/12/2023 19:24

I don't get the whole new year new me let's celebrate stuff. It's just a new day on the calendar and things are as they were the day before. It's the beginning of the 300 days of January. December is magical, deep winter and a bit mystical, pretty lights and for some a time to stay at home with the family.

Maybe we should move Christmas to March then at least the new year starts in April and it's almost spring!

Strokethefurrywall · 30/12/2023 19:25

I've really started to dislike NYE the last couple of years - I enjoyed them when I was younger but now we've lost so many people it seems sad and a time of anxiety.

That being said, my favorite NY were with my parents when they'd throw their parties and we'd all conga in the street. Even when I was in my early 20s, we'd all come back from a club and my parents' party would still be going strong whilst we flaked out pissed in the corner 😂

Now I prefer a good movie and getting up early to enjoy a run at dawn and watch the first sunrise of the year. That makes me far happier.

Unfortunately we're now at the age where the kids are old enough to want to stay up so we kind of have to.

We're going to our friends house to see in the UK new year (7pm here) and then we'll see how late the young ones stay up, otherwise we'll come home.

Cynical85 · 30/12/2023 19:29

I thought I'd posted this, but it's Edith Bowman this year for anyone interested.

Nonplusultra · 30/12/2023 19:30

It doesn’t feel like a year end/beginning. It’s the middle of winter and the beginning of nothing.
If you have to shoehorn a calendar change into this part of the year it should just be on Christmas Day.

I hate the pressure to make resolutions and improve oneself - even if you have no interest in either it still takes an effort to ignore the nonsense. This is a time to semi-hibernate, and slow the pace of life down. It’s downright bad for our health to start pounding the pavements in darkness or restrict calorific intake when our bodies are stressed by the cold and damp.

I don’t want to stay up late, but even if I settle down at 10pm I know I’ll be woken by distressed dogs at midnight when the dodgy fireworks kick off.

For years NYE was a reminder that I wasn’t cool enough to be at a good party. Now it’s an unwelcome reminder that I’m too old to care.

Original poster
Kat256M · 30/12/2023 19:39

SilverGlitterBaubles · 30/12/2023 17:38

I agree OP, I enjoy the period between Christmas and New Year many are packing away the decorations after Boxing day. I think the pre Christmas hype starts building so early now that it just cannot be sustained much past Christmas Day. The planning, the adverts, the hype, the excitement, the spending it's not possible to keep it up. The shops seemed to start with the Christmas displays while I was still wearing my flip flops-now shops are already displaying Easter eggs before we've even celebrated New Year's 🙄

Yes that does happen! I kept seeing "book now for Christmas dinner" posters from the end of August. Everything went Christmas/red/festive overnight from 1st of November around here, shops etc.

Don't get me wrong I love Christmas but it can be a bit much for most people after 2 full months of Christmas music in shops!!

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 30/12/2023 19:39

I don't hate it but I've got young kids, no babysitters and haven't really figured out what to do with it. Christmas at least has traditions you can fall back on.

OneTC · 30/12/2023 19:40

Personally could live without Christmas and NYE is my favourite party of the year