As every year comes to a close, many families across the country turn on the news to watch the ball drop in New York City. Spectators flood the streets for this moment with their blow-up sticks, big party hats, and funny glasses of the upcoming year. Fireworks go off all night, friends and family surrounding you and sharing your joy, flavorful drinks in hand, and surely more. Everything screams “party” when it comes to New Year’s in New York City, but is it really as fun as people make it out to be?
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about NYC New Year’s is the crowd; all of those people rubbing up on you, smelly and sweaty, and possibly drunk. It sounds suffocating. Personally, I enjoy a good party as long as I’m not blocked in or being touched by strangers, which is the exact opposite of what New York offers on this celebratory evening. And what’s worse is that the crowd will stay there for hours. According to Google, people gather in Times Square for the ball drop at 6pm. Then, when midnight hits, those same bodies usually turn to their lover and give them a good long kiss. This in itself is sweet, and I understand that part of the tradition, but that’s a lot of kissing. It almost sounds like your stereotypical high school or college party with too much pda.
After gathering a couple statements, Shalane Peterson talks about how New Year’s affected her work life, “I haven’t been to New Year’s Eve in the city but I used to work by Times Square and passed by the streets by where the ball is. It was always a pain because no one would be able to walk in those areas at least a day before New Year’s Eve and I’d have to walk farther to get to and from work.” Her husband, Adrian Peterson, on the other hand, serves as a first hand witness of the famous night, “I wouldn’t define it as fun, but more of an adventure! I say that because it’s freezing, you have to get there super early in the day, it’s super crowded, you can’t get out and go to the bathroom at any point. It’s miserable in all of those regards, but overall it’s fun and a crazy adventure worth doing once!”
But in the end, it’s all up to personal preference. People from all across the spectrum celebrate New Year’s. Some find joy in the rowdiness of it while others would rather sit at home in the comfort of their sofa and watch the ball drop on their TV. The fun of celebration differs between the individual, so New Year’s being “fun” is a flexible definition for varying people. Either way you go, New Year’s Eve is a night worth remembering.
