Last-Minute New Years Eve Party Idea

[Persepone]

When my daughter was young, all our friends were broke or poor, no one had babysitters, no individual family had enough money to throw even a modest party, etc. etc. Besides, we lived in an area where going out on the roads after dusk was a sucidal activity (the DUI laws were not as strict as today, etc.)

We had a bring the kids, bring your holiday leftovers, bring what you can Pyjama Party! This party recurred for years and years and years... ages always ranged from about 3 months old to about 80 years old--and eventually grew into a sort of "event"--people planned their pyjamas carefully and the breakfast the next morning turned into a real gourmet brunch. Of course Times Square was on TV at midnight, but afterward we graduated from board games to little movie-festivals in a couple of rooms as well as the board games (e.g., old Charlie Chaplin films in one room, horror movies in another, and romantic stuff in a third.) We did have some cool pyjama stuff--the Scotsman who had "tartan" pyjamas, the family with santa claus outfits, one person with adult-sized footed sleeper and bunny slippers--and another person who, with her son had an annual new pair of "character" slippers, etc. etc. etc.
The food was ecclectic and lots of fun--and there was tons of popcorn for the late night movies... Little kids got filed sardine style sideways across the beds... older kids and adults brought sleeping bags...
Although there was "alcohol" (usually wine, beer and the New Years Champagne), no one really drank much alcohol--but lots of mulled cider, hot cocoa, tea of every type, etc. etc. and we had happy, safe New Years parties with lots of laughter... The kids got to stay up as late as they wanted--or they fell asleep cuddled up to someone--and grownups teased each other for years about who snored, etc. but generally these were lots of fun, fairly low key, and above all safe. No one got into a car accident going home because no one went home. Everyone got breakfast the next day (and we did find out who the good cooks were and who the good cooks weren't--but it sort of evened out because everyone pitched in....

This is an almost zero cost, spur of the moment party that works really well. Your neighbors, friends, etc. all have holiday leftovers in the frig &/or eggs, popcorn, a loaf of bread, some soda, beer--whatever--to bring to the party. Lots of people have favorite videotapes to bring and show... And you don't really need multiple TVs (but we had people who brought them!) No one has to dress up (unless they have wild pyjamas they want to show off), no one needs a babysitter, etc. They can bring their own friends, relatives, etc.

This actually works (like many parties) best when you have more people than you think you have room for... With 2-3 families, it's fun, but with 10-15 or even more people crammed into your house, it's a real hoot! And if your Aunt Gladys comes along, instead of being a party pooper, she finds a friend to talk to in someone else's Aunt or Uncle or Grandma and they sit happily in the corner discussing whatever...

We moved away a few years ago, but the party is still going strong in our old city (and several others have taken the party with them when they moved to new places)... every year is different and the kids have long grown up--now they bring their own kids... but the deal is the same--show up by 8 and no one goes back on the road until daylight 1/1...