The last 24 hours of the year are almost upon us and you’ve decided to countdown to a house party with your loved ones? Then read these tips for your perfect New Year’s Eve celebration at home!
So, what do you do on the last day of the year? If you too are fans of boisterous home parties rather than freezing fireworks watching, then watch out: We have collected some tips and tricks for you to make your New Year’s Eve party go off like a rocket at the midnight spectacle – from raclette with a twist to mystical tarot card reading.
Setting the Mood: The Right Outfit
How do you feel when you take your chicest piece out of your wardrobe? Really good, right? The right outfit not only adds a stylish touch to your party but also lifts the party mood. Ask your guests if they want to wear their Sunday suit on New Year’s Eve or make a theme party out of it: from ball night and Golden Twenties to Bad Taste and famous personalities to Fête Blanche and Italo evening, anything is possible.
And by the way, did you know that in Italy they wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve? It’s supposed to bring more luck to your love life – but more on that later. And don’t forget: For an atmospheric setting, the right playlist is a must. In the endless Spotify universe, you’re sure to find the right tunes for every theme and mood. For an Italo party, we recommend the playlist “The Perfect Italian Dinner”, for French savoir-vivre everything from Carla Bruni to Edith Piaf and Z for Zaz.
Food & Drink: Sharing is fun
No one wants to wait hungrily for the chime of midnight. But what do you cook so that you don’t have to keep scurrying to the kitchen during the party? Of course, raclette on the table and grilling away! It’s not for nothing that this particularly fragrant cheese is in the high season in winter: the ingredients are easy to portion, apart from a little chopping, everything is quickly prepared and you can continue eating at any time if your stomach starts rumbling again.
If the strong smell of cheese is too spicy for you, switch to creamy Camembert or sheep’s cheese and give the whole thing a delicious little twist. And because we were already talking about styling: Why not put the food under a certain theme as well? A maritime-themed party with seafood, a French evening with oysters, escargots, and champagne (how much?) or an Italian evening with pizza, antipasti, chianti, and prosecco – or even better: Franciacorta – is something no one will say no to. All this can also be done buffet style: your friends will probably ask you if they can bring something anyway, so you can divide up the errands in advance. With a bit of management and a large free table area, you only have to worry about keeping the food warm.
Entertainment: Games for the last hours of the year
When it comes to parlour games, opinions often differ. Fortunately, there are party guarantors that are sure to bring your entire merry circle to a green mistletoe. One of the most famous card games full of black humour is Cards Against Humanity, in which you have to complete the given sentences with words that have been handed out to you and are as funny as possible. If you already know the game and the sentences in all combinations, get the expansion packs, such as the Seasons Greetings, Science, Nasty, or Nerd Pack. For “lovers of cats and explosions, laser beams and the occasional goat”, the card game Exploding Kittens brings just the right amount of absurdity into the round.
And then, of course, there are party tickets: A game where you secretly assign your guests a task that they have to complete during the course of the evening without the others noticing. This ranges from charming to-dos like “Smuggle yourself onto other people’s selfies” to giving out catchy tunes like Barbie Girl and Call me maybe. For less sadistically inclined hosts, we suggest Hanabi: a communicative-cooperative game from Japan for two to five people, in which you have to create as many fireworks as possible for the gods. Meanwhile, great question card games are also back in season: find a Friends edition and ask each other questions you’ve probably never asked before: What do your friends like best about themselves? What moment would they like to relive? You’ll see: It will bring the party crowd much closer together.
Customs & Traditions: What does the coming year bring?
Besides looking back at the past 365 days, our thoughts are mainly on one topic: the new year and what it will offer us. Do you want to venture a glimpse into the future? Then why not fall back on tried and tested means or customs. Although lead is no longer used for lead casting, pewter or wax casting are still popular rituals and also inspire your imagination when guessing the shapes. Does the cast figure turn out to be a fish? Then the New Year will be very kind to you in financial terms. Or is it rather a torch? Congratulations, because it stands for a long life!
By the way, if you want to look into your friends’ cards a little, why not give them some? Tarot cards are available in many bookshops, often with small instructions for classic patterns and interpretations. Do you want to know who in your circle will have the best luck? As in Greece, bake a coin into a loaf of bread or a cake. Whoever finds the coin (please don’t swallow it!) will be the official lucky person of 2023! In Brazil, by the way, people only wear white clothes for the New Year, in Italy the aforementioned red underwear, which is supposed to promise especially much amore in the course of the next trip around the sun.
The traditional midnight kiss can initiate this, especially if it then continues three-four times with a typical Austrian waltz. Because whether you believe it or not, some traditions are just a lot of fun.
So, do you already have your perfect New Year’s Eve party in mind? We wish you happy planning and even happier celebrations!
