Unfortunately, it’s still not safe to go out and party with a bunch of friends and family members. It’s perfectly fine to celebrate with the people you live with so long as everyone has been responsible and nobody has any symptoms, though![2] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Treat it like a regular party. Decorate the home with streamers and dress up the same way you normally would. This will go a long way toward making it feel like a normal event. If you have children, you can get some props and have fun taking fancy “photo booth” selfies, or mix up some mocktails so they can celebrate with you.
You could do a theme party and encourage everyone to get into their best suit or dress or ask everyone to dress up as their favorite movie character. You could play a party game while you’re waiting for the digital ball drop. Something like “never have I ever” or “2 truths and a lie” is a great way to share some laughs together.
If you’re going to be missing out on some local fireworks, you can always tune in to a livestream of fireworks. Many major cities are still hosting firework celebrations, even if people aren’t going to be physically attending. [7] X Research source
You could also go with some fun kazoos, maracas, or cowbells depending on how far you want to take it with the noise. [9] X Research source This will be especially fun if you’re celebrating with children! Kids tend to really love noisemakers.
You can light some fireworks off yourself if it’s legal where you live and you’re responsible. Just make sure you only light off 1 firework at a time, keep a bucket of water nearby to put out potential misfires, and light the fireworks off from a responsible distance.
You can break out some board games to play with your family or roommates. If you live alone, you could always get a few friends together for some online video games. Another option is to treat New Year’s Eve as an opportunity to start 2022 right. Go through your wardrobe and pull the stuff you don’t wear out to give it to charity. Throw on an interesting podcast or some music and clean your home. Go to bed ready to wake up to a fresh start at home!
This is also a good idea if you live in a densely populated area where there’s bound to be lots of noise and fireworks going off in the background!
Remember, you’re probably saving a bunch of money this year with all of the bars, festivals, and concert venues cancelling any events you would normally be interested in. If you can afford it, treat yourself and splurge a little.
Sometimes it helps to just get outside. Quarantine hasn’t been easy, and getting out and seeing what’s going on in your city may be a great way to spend a few hours. If you live in a rural area, you could head out and do some stargazing.
You could also make an activity out of this if you’re hosting a virtual party or celebrating with your family. Ask everyone to jot down their resolution or discuss your plans for the new year as a group. [15] X Research source
The risk of spreading the virus at a small gathering like this varies depending on where you live (some communities have higher levels of COVID-19 than others), how long the gathering lasts (longer gatherings will increase your risk) and how responsible the attendees have been about social distancing prior to the gathering. Do not do this if you or anyone you know has had any symptoms of COVID-19. This includes fever, cough, a loss of taste or smell, difficulty breathing, fatigue, sore throat, or body aches. [17] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source
