When I was growing up, my family would always clang in the New Year. Just as the clock struck twelve, we’d race outside and bang our issued pan with a wooden spoon. There was nothing melodious about it. It was pure noise. We’d exchange New Year’s greetings with our neighbors and reminisce about the past year. And as tradition would have it, just as everyone had returned to their homes, my father would lift his head to the sky and start to bay. Yep, just like a dog. Makes a daughter proud.
At this point my mother would make a dash for the front door. And just as she hit the threshold she’d hear the canine choir begin its annual concert under the direction of her snickering husband and complete with solos provided by Ringo and Rusty, our neighbors Cash and Ida’s two bellowing beagles. Now what makes the story even funnier is the conversation my dad and Cash would have the following day. Cash would comment to my father about Ringo and Rusty’s sudden excitement and wonder what the catalyst was. My dad, with a twinkle in his eyes, would make his trademark furrowed brow, shrug his shoulders and simply reply “It must have been all the clanging.”
Thinking back on the whole scene, I’m pretty sure the brow furrowing was just a means to prevent him from bursting into fits of laughter. My dad was a stinker. Hiding under his mild mannered, rather passive personality, was a troublemaker brewing. Some would say the apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree. I’m fairly sure they are referring to my brother because I would know nothing about of being a stinker. And thankfully my mom is out of the country right now with no means of disputing this statement. But I digress.
New Year’s Eve was special because it was the night of extraordinary treats. It was a treat to stay up late. It was a treat to sip sparkling apple cider from crystal stemware. It was a treat to go into the streets of Pinole and make as much noise as possible. I loved those home bound celebrations. And so the tradition of being at home for New Year’s Eve has continued for me through the years.
There was however the exception year of 1999 when my husband, mom, son, good friend and I ventured to downtown Fort Worth to ring in the new century with a few thousand of our closest neighbors. I mean the world was about to collapse, right? So why not watch it unfold from the middle of a city square where there was plenty of protection from chaos and rioting. Yeah. Good sense runs in my family. See above story for proof.
Well, the world did not collapse. There were no riots or ensuing chaos. In fact, the only tense situation was being in the car as my husband tried to maneuver our way from the parking lot to the freeway. It’s a miracle we are still not driving around in circles ten years later. This was after all pre-navigation systems and pre-husband-realizing-he-needs-to-occassionally-ask-for-directions. But I digress.
Being home for New Year’s Eve through the years has, I must admit, lost its specialness. And I wonder if I have done enough to create that same sense of excitement for my son as my parents did for my brother and me. Honestly, by the time December 31st arrives any more, I am usually so tired from all the holiday hoopla that the thought of staying awake past 10 o’clock makes my head hurt. Makes me yawn right now even thinking about it.
So what can I do to get the frivolity back into our New Year’s Eves? I think there are two steps involved. First is to get more sleep so that I can actually stay awake long enough to see the clock strike twelve. This step could include one of my favorite things … naptime (hey, I like this plan already)! And second is to make a bigger deal out of the evening. This step could include inviting people over for some festive food, games and pan clanging. I mean, who can resist pan clanging?
With step two in mind, my brain began thinking of an ensemble of accessory pieces I could incorporate into the festivities. And after some aimless wandering around my local crafts store, I had a color scheme, a motif and a theme for all the pieces. I fell into giddiness with the teal and tiffany blue sequins I stumbled upon and used them to base my color scheme and circle motif on. Hanging right next to the sequins were packages of silver bells and from there my theme was formed. It was kismet.
I began my Ring in the New Year party pieces with the food markers. To incorporate the sequin’s circle motif, I simply stamped and embossed the food name on the lighter cardstock and punched it out. After matting it with a larger darker circle, I hot glued it to a large bell. These large bells were screaming to be used (ok, maybe not screaming, but at least chiming loudly) and I love how they reinforce the party’s theme.
Next I toyed with the idea of glass charms. It’s easy to lose track of your glass at a party, especially if everyone is drinking the same thing, which at our house is still sparkling apple cider on New Year’s Eve. I rummaged around for some leftover wire jewelry hoops and started threading sequins onto them. With a simple paint pen initial, these charms were way quick to make and can even be done by your guests as an ice-breaker activity. Every party needs something to bring people together; a common activity can be that bonding experience.
Now what says party more than silly hats? Nothing else really. Especially if those hats have crazy antennae like embellishments popping out from the top. Again, this is an item that your guests can make themselves. Pre-cut the cardstock half-circles and ribbon lengths then set out multiple staplers and hole punches for everyone to use during assembly. Each hat will be unique and everyone will have fun modeling their haberdashery to each other.
I believe every party should have a parting gift. A little something that says thanks for coming. So here’s what I came up with for this Ring in the New Year bash. It’s a faux old-fashioned cracker. You can make it a real one; there are ways to do it. But for demo purposes I just faked it. Christmas wrap rolls would be great to use as the base, but paper towel and toilet tissue tubes are sturdy enough too. Wrap the tubes with colored tissue paper and tie off the ends with ribbon. I added the sequins and bells by wiring them onto the ribbon knots. The sentiment circle was done the same way as the food markers. Gather these in a silver bucket placed on your serving table for a pretty display and then hand them out as guests leave.
Silverware wraps are another favorite accessory of mine. I guess because I hate fumbling with separate utensils at parties. I always seem to drop one or two while piling my plate with buffet goodies. Both maddening and wasteful. A length of ribbon tied around the grouping is the easiest way to secure them. But why not take it up a notch by gathering a few sequins and a bell onto a wire jewelry hoop and attaching it to the ribbon knot. Quick and painless with a striking end result.
The last item in this ensemble is the invitation. I know, I’ve worked backwards this time round, but hey, it’s ok to break my self-imposed rules once a year (as long as I don’t make a habit of it, right? Yes, ma’am). I used ideas from the other pieces to make the invite. There is the ribbon tie from the cracker and silverware wrap, the circle sentiment from the food markers, and the sequin/bell loop from the glass charms. Each element gives your guests a hint of what’s to come. They all tie together to set the mood and theme of the evening as well as to be so dang cool that no one will want to miss the party with the awesome invitation.
So however you decide to spend your New Year’s Eve this year, whether it’s a quiet night catching up on your sleep, a gathering of family and friends in your home, or a wild night out on the town, I wish you safety and happy memories. May your 2010 be filled with many opportunities to share your home and hospitality with those you hold dear and to celebrate all of life’s moments whether they be monumental or mundane. And may your neighbors refrain from calling the police when you fill the street with the loud and thunderous sounds of clanging pans. Clang on, dear friends, clang on!
~ Elizabeth (ekb)