In the year of COVID-19, dressing up to throw a traditional New Year’s Eve party may seem gauche and ill-advised. While we encourage everyone to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines recommending you only gather with people within your household, that doesn’t mean you can’t still party like it’s 1999. (OK, admittedly that joke is 39 years too old, but I’m keeping it. We all do what we must.)
Check out these fun and festive ways to celebrate New Year's Eve indoors if you would like a proper send-off to the Dumpster fire that was 2020.
New Year's safety: Why we’re staying home this year
Keeping it chill: Other ways to usher in 2021
Don’t have the energy to make a big deal out of the passing of one year to the next? We totally get it. I can’t even gather up the energy to change from my nighttime pajamas to my daytime pajamas. Instead, try these low-key ways to celebrate.
Movie marathon
Fire up the microwave popcorn, order takeout, get out the cozy blankets, and settle into your spot on the couch and queue up your Netflix. Binge-watch the entire Fast and Furious franchise (a true delight) — or maybe you’re a traditionalist like Michelle Newby who told Mom.com, “We will have pizza and a Star Wars marathon.”
New Year food delivery
For those of us who absolutely cannot stand the thought of feeding their family one more time during the pandemic, order delivery or takeout from a local small business. “We will celebrate New Year’s Eve indoors this year by ordering our favorite foods locally and then hosting a dance-off and video game competition,” Tomika Bryant told Mom.com. Not only will you be bolstering the local economy, you’re making your own life easier.
Board game marathon
Grab all the games — or playing cards — and a charcuterie board (yes, this is mandatory because cheese and cured meats make everything classier) and sit down for hours of fun with your family. What better way to ring in the new year than to stoke sibling rivalries and make memories.
A time of contemplation
Whether it’s reflecting on your year, discussing your New Year's resolutions, or just a moment of silence, build time to stop and mark the passing of time. “Normalize talking or expressing authentically about emotions,” Dr. Jean-Arellia Tolentino told Mom.com. “Creating time for reflection provides a way for children and parents to navigate strong emotions that may be coming up.”
Bryant told us, “Around 11 p.m., we will virtually gather with other family members and we pray the new year in.” Whatever your faith tradition (if any), a little contemplation never hurt anyone.
