New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve celebrations have been around for thousands of years and are actually the oldest of all holidays. The time of celebration has changed according to the calendar adopted at the time. At the present time, we follow the Gregorian calendar and celebrate this holiday as the end of the Old Year (Dec 31st). It's a time of hope for new and good things to come! 

My son Ryan, and his wife Marlene taking silly pictures on New Years Eve 2011!

History of New Years Eve

The video below gives a great overview of the History of this holiday:

New Year's Eve Events

There are so many New Year's Eve events in the Truckee area. Many of the large ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley), and Northstar have events and fireworks.  The Resort at Squaw Creek and Tahoe Donner have events, as does the nearby cities like Tahoe City and Reno.  

Many of the local Truckee area restaurants have special meals for the evening.

If you venture out on New Year's Eve, and plan to drink, either get a room close to where you are partying or be sure to have a designated driver. In most places, there is often free ride service home.

Fireworks at Palisades Tahoe - Photo Credit: Chris Beck (used with permission from Squaw Valley's Media area on their website)

New Year's Eve Traditions Include:

• Out with the "Old" and in with the "New", symbolizing a new start!
• Dick Clark and Ryan Seacreast hosting the evening festivities!
• Dips, dips, and more dips! Little Smokies anyone?
• Saying "Happy New Year" as the clock strikes midnight!
• Watching the ball drop in New York Times Square and counting down the seconds!
• Staying home in your pajamas with the family and watching a Star Wars, Twilight Zone, Star Trek, or other favorite movie marathon!
• Parties, parties and more parties! Which one will you attend?
• Drinking and eating way too much! No thinking about healthy diet habits allowed!
• "Champagne Toasting" at midnight to ring in the New Year!
• Crazy hats, masks, glasses, glitter, and noisemakers for New Years Eve!

My daughter in law, Marlene (far left) and some of her friends at their annual Party she hosts.

"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is well known in many countries, especially (but far from exclusively) in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight.

Traditional New Year's Eve Foods:

• Eating certain foods during New Years is said to bring you good luck!
• Foods in the shape of a ring symbolize coming full circle, completing a year’s cycle.
• Foods vary depending on the party that you attend. Many are gourmet feasts and many are just an array of various dips, appetizers, and finger foods! Anything goes! It's about welcoming in the New Year with your friends and family and not about healthy diet habits!

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The end of the year is full of excitement! The holiday season is ending, and there is hope for the New Year to come!