With the last day of the old year already upon us, the celebration of New Year`s eve will be observed in as many different ways as there are personalities here on perb. VanMan`s Champagne thread and some pm`s from old friends got me thinking about New Year`s eves past and present.
It`s been the worst part of two decades since I looked forward to a New Year`s eve but this year is promising to be a time to crack open that bottle of Sparkling Shiraz and indulge in some very extended foreplay before the big event.
Why do party-goers sing Auld Lang Syne? The Celtic origins of the Hogmanay celebration provides some background. I particularly like the idea of January 2nd being an official holiday as well to aid with the recovery from a week of merry-making.
Roy Blount Jr. shares a very funny piece about the most popular misconception about New Year`s attire - the idea that many drunken revellers stumble about with a lampshade on their head.
He says "I have seen people do almost everything at a party: fall down, get naked, fight, start fires, climb out of windows, and put big wet slices of warm roast beef down each other`s shirts. But I have never seen anybody put a lampshade on his or her head. Try it, and you`ll see why. A lampshade has prongs that don`t fit the human head (might fit a cat`s, but a cat would hate it), and there are dead moths in there. Stuck to the sides. But not stuck very securely. You could breathe one into your nose".
The first New Year`s resolution I`m making is to not attempt to wear a lampshade on my head, and the second is to greet 2004 with a smile and love in my heart.
All the best to everyone! If you have some New Year`s stories to share we`d love to hear them.
