Submitted by Gissele Granados, River Ridge High School intern
Growing up in the Philippines, my mom had many great memories of her lively country. Everyone – families, neighbors, friends and even strangers – would spend time together during New Year’s. Anyone who passed by could probably sense the inviting and festive presence pouring out of each person! A feast, the Noche Buena as they call it, is then prepared. Roasted pig, noodles, eggs, sticky rice – oh, how I wish to have been able to spend New Years at least once there.
A tradition that my mom still follows even now is gathering twelve types of round fruit, signifying each month of the year, to bring prosperity and good fortune in the upcoming year. The most hectic part of New Year’s Eve is most likely at the strike of midnight. “Everything in the house would be opened, kids would be jumping, and it would be so loud – fireworks, church bells, car horns, ambulance sirens, the hitting of pots and pans! For that one whole minute anything that could be used to make noise would be used and it was just perfect for the start of a new year,” describes my mom. This must have been such a beautiful and animated time of the year. And for my mom to be able to vividly describe this event must have been greatly memorable.
Now there’s plenty of ways to spend time with friends during the New Year’s. A small get together with friends can be an enjoyable time. Buying or cooking food and treats for New Year’s would be an easy task with recipes that could be easily found from magazines and online food websites. A warm cup of apple cider and eggnog or a delicious mouthwatering dessert would be great drinks and treats to have for a bunch. To top it off a big, juicy, nicely seasoned turkey and mashed potatoes would be a delight to feast on.
Adults and children who don’t want to stay up for the ball drop at midnight can attend the Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Hands on Children’s Museum from 10am to 3pm. The admission fee for kids who aren’t members is $15 and for adults it’s $4 each. A variety of activities will be held throughout the Museum. Although the countdown is early it’s an enjoyable experience for kids and adults.
If you’d rather spend time with family and friends at home, hosting a party is a great option to avoid crazy hectic outside events. The New Year’s Eve Times Square Countdown on television can bring a more festive atmosphere to your house. New York City provides viewers with its colorful and beautiful scene and its jubilant aura presents the excitement of the beginning of a brand new year. It usually is a common event to watch for people celebrating their New Years Eve at home.
A traditional thing to do during New Year’s is to watch fireworks after the countdown and possibly setting off your own mini fireworks and sparklers. Any local area such as Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) or a variety of casinos will have free viewings for people to watch the fireworks go off. And maybe if you’re lucky you live close enough to watch them from your backyard.
Many of my friends celebrate the New Year’s with the lunisolar Chinese calendar which will take place on January 31. It is most known as the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year. It is a fifteen day event beginning with the New Moon and ending with the full moon. Each year is dedicated to one of the twelve Chinese zodiacs and many events take place. Are you interested in the way this is celebrated? Head to Seattle’s Chinatown and check out this festivity! And don’t forget to wear red – it keeps those evil spirits away.
An event that can only be spent once a year should be taken advantage of. It’s a holiday that celebrates the dedication of the first day of a year and it should be spent as a joyous time for everyone. Resolutions should be made and followed through and people should let loose and enjoy time with friends and family. Every New Year’s should be a memorable experience for everyone.
