What was your best New Year's Eve ever? Here are ten stories where the year ended on a truly high note.
Big Brother
When I was 16, my best friend’s parents went away, so we celebrated New Year's Eve just the two of us at her place. We had a little drink and started watching a movie when her brother, Peti, came home with a friend. Peti was the hottest guy in school—every girl adored him. The four of us kept the party going, laughing and having a great time. My friend and her friend got so absorbed in the movie they lost track of time, but Peti nudged me that midnight was near and motioned for us to go to the kitchen. There, he hugged me and kissed me right at midnight. I thought I’d stepped into a movie scene. That was my very first kiss, with the coolest guy ever! We fell asleep cuddled on the couch. Nothing happened between us after that, but I was the envy of the school because he always greeted me with a sweet smile.
The Ceiling
When I was seven, I asked my mom what happens at midnight, and she mimicked clinking glasses with a drink in her hand. At midnight, I grabbed my glass and smashed it against the ceiling with all my might. I didn’t know you were supposed to clink glasses—I misunderstood my mom’s gesture. To this day, it’s my favorite New Year's memory.
The Party
That year, my boyfriend and I didn’t want a big party, so we just went to a quiet little pub in the suburbs. Our friends kept inviting us to house parties and clubs, but we said no thanks, we were happy right there and told them to come over if they wanted. Everyone showed up! His friends, mine, people who didn’t know each other but got along amazingly well. It turned into the best party in town. That group never gathered like that again, and I’ve never been to a better party since.
Horror
My sister was 14, I was 12, and Dad let us watch a horror movie. We huddled under a blanket on the couch with our parents, and at midnight, we toasted with a tiny sip of "grown-up sparkling wine." It was my best New Year's Eve ever.
2000
I was at a huge house party waiting for the new millennium, and right at midnight, I lost my virginity with a quiet, polite, and very handsome guy I’d just started dating half an hour earlier. We ended up dating for two more years.
Neighbors
I had just moved into my apartment in a foreign country two days earlier. I bought a bottle of sparkling wine to drink alone, but my neighbors knocked and invited me to their party. I didn’t know anyone and barely spoke the language, yet it was the best New Year's Eve of my life.
The Girl
I’d been secretly in love with a girl from college for a whole year but never said a word to her. On New Year's Eve, we accidentally ran into each other in the party district and ended up chatting until dawn at a house party. We didn’t kiss at midnight—just toasted—but I didn’t mind. Our friends drifted apart, and I walked her home in the morning. She said she didn’t want to sleep alone and asked me to stay. No one started the first day of the New Year happier than me.
Home
When I was a 20-year-old wild child, I just didn’t feel like drinking or partying that night, so I stayed home with my sister, brother, and parents. We ate, played board games, watched movies, and laughed until we cried while Mom and Dad danced around, a little tipsy and adorable.
The Reunion
I ran into my former best friend Rita at a club—we hadn’t spoken in eight years after a fight over a guy. We stared at each other silently for a few seconds, then screamed and hugged. At midnight, we were still talking about how lame that guy was, laughing at each other's stories. That was six years ago, and Rita is still my best friend.
Kicked Out
My best friend and I went to a party of a friend-of-a-friend far out in the suburbs. I didn’t know anyone but had a great chat with two friendly gay guys who offered me delicious pastries. Suddenly, the host appeared furious, slammed the door, and started pushing me out, accusing me of insulting his guests and eating his mom’s pastries. I had no idea what he was talking about, but moments later I found myself on the street, my coat literally thrown after me. (The next day I learned my friend had argued with someone, and because we look alike, they confused me with her.) I couldn’t reach my friend by phone—turns out her battery died, and she was making out with a guy in the guest room. So I started walking down the freezing, dark street. I didn’t even know where I was, couldn’t find a bus stop, and no taxi company would send a ride. I started to cry, thinking what a terrible New Year's Eve this would be, when a guy approached me. He asked what was wrong, if he could help, and gave me a tissue. He said he was on his way to a party with just five friends and invited me to join until I found a taxi. Hesitantly, I accepted. His friends welcomed me warmly, and it turned into an amazing party. At midnight, I kissed that guy—and we’ve been together ever since. We got married last year.
