New Year

Siblings and siblings in-law gathered in our house to celebrate New Year’s. We spent the entire day together, from morning until midnight. It was a long day full of shopping, eating, and waiting. During the afternoon, we explored the shopping street of a large nearby town. Our small town turned chaotic as everyone raided the stores last minute. Luckily, our afternoon was much quieter. We found holiday sales, petted some snakes at the pet store, and found a small cafe for coffee. I bought a giant sack of oliebollen as part of the New Year’s Eve tradition. My partner G and his sister A made dinner together in our kitchen. They made ridiculously delicious lasagna, one of G’s specialties. We spent the night together waiting for midnight. It consisted of crazy games, funky music, and hilarious videos. Before midnight, we donned festive gold party hats and watched the countdown on tv.

At midnight, the entirety of the Netherlands started using fireworks. They become legal briefly on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Streets and backyards are lit with a changing array of colors. Fireworks burst overhead and in the streets, used by people young and old. It can be incredibly loud, and lasts for several hours at least. It was cold today, keeping most people inside at midnight. We went outside for several minutes to watch the fireworks, but it was very cold. Overall, it was a great New Year’s party.