Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Feeling anxious about being in public places due to the omicron variant? Had your plans to head down to KLCC for their trademark fireworks canceled or just want to stay in and celebrate at home with your family and close friends?
From board game competitions to eating “lucky” food, here’s a list of fun things to do at home and still ring in the New Year!
1. Throw a cocktail/ potluck party
Invite over a close group of friends or family members (being tested before and after of course) to have a potluck dinner.
Everyone could bring over their own version of a New Year special dish and have fun with it. Sure, someone can bring over a board of cheese, some pasta or even popiah. But suggest someone bring over an ice cream board or pizza board to make things more interesting.
For those who want a more unique twist: you could have your last meal of this year be full of “lucky” foods!
You can munch on pork, black eyed peas, lentils or herring for prosperity in the new year. To attract wealth in 2022 eat: collard greens, cornbread or sauerkraut. Enjoy noodles? Eat a bowl of soba noodles to bring longevity for the next year. Want next year to come full circle? Enjoy a donut as the clock strikes midnight. For true luck to be with you all of 2022, eat 12 grapes at once or a whole fish — head to tail.
2. Put together a scrapbook
Preserve memories and make some new ones while scrapbooking!
Go out and buy scrapbook materials and put together your favorite moments of 2021. Have each person in your family be in charge of a page to make it more unique. Maybe have everyone pick their fondest memory from each month and have a page where everyone puts their favorite moment of the year.
3. Couch Potato-ing
What better way to end the year by relaxing on your couch and watching some of Netflix’s best New Year’s Eve shows?
Of course, you can also tune in to TV’s live NYE’s special programs and catch the countdowns on any Astro channels.
Or even catch past year’s celebrations on none other than American TV! With Live performances of New Year’s Eve Live: “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party Hosted By Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson.” Produced by “Saturday Night Live’s” Lorne Michaels, the lineup will include special guests and musical performances.
4. Foreign traditions
Being at home gives everyone the chance to be just a little more superstitious to explore different cultures ahead of the clock hitting 12.
Be like the Greeks and hang onions on your doorway. The smelly but delicious veggie is a symbol of rebirth and will promote growth throughout the new year.
In Denmark, when the clock strikes midnight people jump off chairs by “jumping into the new year.” It’s popular with the little ones and is supposed to bring good luck.
Other traditions you can partake in are sprinkling salt on your doorstep to promote peace like those in Turkey do, or be like the Armenians and bake bread for luck.
5. Make a time capsule
2021 has been an interesting year, to say the least. What better way to commemorate this whirlwind than with a time capsule?
Gather some memorabilia from famous 2021 events! Maybe your vaccination appointment card, a bottle cap from a water bottle you drank while you were out in a protest, or even a few photos and maybe a handwritten letter summarizing how 2021 went for you.
Make it accessible for every family member by purchasing some mason jars so they each have their own capsule and can decorate as desired. If you don’t want to dig up your backyard with a plethora of holes, place the jars in safe storage and revisit them next New Year’s Eve.
6. Famous firework shows… Kinda
Though the notable firework shows have been officially announced canceled, instead of waiting for fireworks to show up on your television screen around midnight, why not watch famous firework shows from years past?
YouTube will be your friend for this binge marathon. The best part? The shows don’t have to be fixated just on celebrating New Year’s Eve from wherever you are. Maybe you want to relive seeing that firework show that you went to years ago, or wonder what it’s like at a NYE countdown in Japan.
The search bar truly is a blessing.
7. Boardgame marathon
Let’s end the year with fun and competition! Starting at 6 p.m., gather everyone at home to start a board game marathon at the top of each hour until midnight. Depending on how many people are in your household, you might need to add or take away some board games. You should play board games that will not take longer than an hour though, so Monopoly is definitely off the list. Jenga, Uno, Battleship, Guess Who, Connect Four and Scrabble are recommended games for some light and friendly competition. Make it more interesting by adding rewards for the top player every hour!
We at IRL extend our sincere gratitude to every single reader who has been with us in 2021 exploring real-life stories. Here’s to a better year!
For more stories like this, read: 6 Things Your Relatives Ask During Chinese New Year
and Why Do Malaysians Make (and Fail) Their New Year’s Resolutions?
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