New Year’s Eve: An Annual Manzo Tradition

For many, New Year’s Eve is a holiday that is planned on a whim and without much importance. For me, planning has been simple: party at my place!

My family has hosted a party on New Years Eve for as long as I can remember. In my family, we usually rotate the holidays between the different households, and New Year’s was always our holiday.

 

When I was younger, it had a place along with my birthday and Christmas as one of my most anticipated days of the year. It was time where my entire family (most notably my cousins) would finally come to my house to play. I would see my family all the time (and still do for better or worse ,love you guys! 😘), but we’re usually in Ambler at any of my other family members' places since that is where most of my family is centralized. Our New Year’s Eve party was the exception to the rule and I would spend the entire day waiting in anticipation. Frankly, I still do.

Before the party start, the entire day is spent getting prepared. My mom prepares the grand feast while the rest of us set up the extra tables and folding chairs, put up the decorations, and make sure the house is guest ready. I have many memories of accompanying my Dad on hectic errand runs on New Year’s Eve. When my sister started to drive many years ago, we would often grab fast food as to not bother my mom in the kitchen. This part of the day isn’t nearly as fun, but I always knew that the party would be here soon enough if I kept busy.

Once the guests start to arrive, it’s time for the first portion of the party: dinner. A staple every year is lentil soup, which in Italian culture is supposed to bring you good luck and money in the new year (after the 2019 I’ve had, I’ll be going in for seconds 🙏).

After that, it’s hanging out and good times while we wait for midnight. The Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. matches we’ve had over the years on New Year’s Eve are the stuff of legend. Ping pong for days. Trivial Pursuit battles for the ages. Then once we hit the 10-minute warning, we pause and gather around the TV for the countdown. These are the moments that have made New Year’s Eve so memorable for me.

The idea of having other plans on New Year’s is often brought up. Would I rather go out on New Year’s Eve? Not really. To me, Christmas and New Year’s Eve go hand in hand as a time of reflection. To look back on the past. To think about the people who are no longer with us. To appreciate the ones that still are. To create new memories with loved ones. To move forward into a new year (and in this year’s case, a new decade) with renewed optimism for the future. I’m thankful for any opportunity that my whole family gets to get together and create new memories on holidays, and I’m all for being there. Even if I felt otherwise, I would need to help host anyway so I’m glad I feel the way I do.

No matter how or who you plan to spend New Year’s Eve with, I hope you enjoy yourself and appreciate the time spent with others.  Thanks for reading, and here’s to 2020! 🎆

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