How can you spend a New Year’s Eve that’s out of the ordinary?
There are those who, seeing Christmas fast approaching, realise that there are only a few days left before the year comes to an end and they haven’t got a clue what to do for the evening, and those who have already booked their flights to spend New Year’s Eve at the other end of the world.
But rest assured, there are plenty of ways to make your 31st unforgettable!
Here are our 12 original ideas to make the 12 strokes of midnight an extraordinary experience!
1. Spend the 31st in the mountains!
A must. There’s nothing like mingling with the crowds and dancing in the snow to get you in the mood! Ski resorts generally organise free parties on the snow front, with DJs, fireworks and torch-lit descents! So get your moon boots on and put on your best wetsuit to dance in the snow under the stars! Crazy atmosphere guaranteed!
And as a bonus, you’ll wake up in the middle of nature, so you can start the new year on the right foot, with your batteries fully recharged!
Here are the top 10 party resorts in France
2. Hire a boat and pop the champagne on the water!
If you live by a river or lake, why not hire a small boat without a licence (or if you have a boat and a licence, even better!) and pop the champagne in the middle of the water! Perfect for watching the fireworks away from the crowds if need be!
For the less adventurous, you can also treat yourself to a dinner dance on a cruise boat, for a gentle, romantic atmosphere as you cruise along the water!
3. Treat yourself to the services of an in-home chef!
Fancy a gourmet menu at home? Why not treat yourself to the services of a home chef! Amaze your guests without having to prepare or tidy up! What a treat!
Ideal for those who want quality in a small setting. A chic, cosyatmosphere , and a guaranteed feast!
4. Dress up (no pun intended) and go and see a dazzling show!
We never think about it enough, but theatres, opera houses and even circuses and cabarets often offer special New Year’s evenings!
Put on your best pumps, get out your evening gowns and best-tailored suits and take to the red carpet to start the new year in style and elegance! Making a fresh start by doing something you’ve never done before sets the tone for a new year full of new experiences!
Photo credit: “Get Your Guide”
5. Fly to a European capital and party with your neighbours!
This year, you won’t be sticking to champagne and salmon toast, you’ll want to see what’s going on in other countries and find out how our European cousins celebrate the arrival of the New Year!
Contrary to popular belief, booking a weekend in a capital city doesn’t have to be expensive. Many are accessible by train or a few hours by plane (try to favour soft modes of transport wherever possible), and hotels and Airbnb don’t necessarily sell out in the middle of winter!
So if you want to go dancing with the Spaniards, drinking with the Poles or admiring the Northern Lights with the Finns, don’t wait any longer and start your year as a good polyglot (spoiler alert, alcohol helps!).
Here are the top 12 cities (outside France) to spend a crazy 31st!
- London
- Prague
- Krakow
- Barcelona
- Berlin
- Lisbon
- Stockholm
- Edinburgh
- Amsterdam
- Vienna
- Budapest
- Copenhagen
6. Jump into the water and try your hand at the crazy tradition of frosty New Year’s baths!
If you’re not afraid of the cold (or of anything else), maybe it’s time to take part in this strange tradition from the United States: bathing to celebrate the arrival of the New Year. So yes, if you live in the southern hemisphere, you can be cheeky and tell us you do it every year (lucky you), but we’re obviously talking about ice-cold, invigorating water!
So how did such a crazy idea come about?
Russian and Scandinavian traditions include rituals of purification and renewal, generally performed at the beginning of the year to symbolise the idea of a new beginning.
But it was in the twentieth century in the United States that the tradition became popular, with events such as the Polar Bear Plunge, where participants came together to jump into icy water to raise money for charity.
Since then, the idea has grown and spread to many parts of the world, becoming a festive moment of challenge, sharing and good humour, not to mention a boost of energy!
The most famous ice baths!
- Coney Island, New York, where the Polar Bear Club has been perpetuating the tradition since 1903!
- Scheveningen beach, in the Netherlands, where thousands of bathers wear a complimentary orange bonnet and are comforted afterwards by a delicious pea soup to recover from their emotions.
- Edinburgh, in Scotland, to take part in the famous Loony Dook, the winter swim that goes hand in hand with the New Year festivities.
- St Petersburg, Russia, where the legacy of the Orthodox Epiphany is still very much alive, and where a dip in the frozen water remains a spiritually charged act of purification.
- Vancouver, Canada, where the polar bear swim attracts crowds to English Bay beach, the most famous in downtown Vancouver!
The best places to take part in a frosty bath in France!
- Malo-les-Bains: for over 20 years, thousands of people have been coming to take a dip in the English Channel for the famous “Bains des Givrés”! If you go, you’ll even get a certificate!
- Dinard: the traditional New Year’s bath has now been running for over 50 years and is attracting more and more brave bathers. On the other side of the bay, the neighbouring town of Saint-Malo also organises similar events, attracting many curious onlookers.
- Cabourg: in Normandy, fancy dress is the order of the day for the most refreshing swim of the year, to celebrate the arrival of the new year in style!
- Marseilles: Just because you’re heading further south doesn’t mean the water will be much warmer – a few degrees warmer than in the Channel, admittedly, but it’s still cold! You’ll have to be brave to dive into the clear waters of Marseille’s harbour.
- Le Touquet Paris-Plage: This annual event is now firmly established in the calendar. At Le Touquet, we kick off the year in a friendly atmosphere and in cold water, before meeting up for a nice cup of mulled wine!
So, are you up for the challenge this year? It’s said that braving the cold on January 1 brings 12 months of guaranteed happiness! We’d be wrong not to, so Happy New Year!
7. Travel back in time and celebrate the arrival of the year 1925, 1825, 1725 and more!
If you’ve always thought you were born in the wrong century, now’s your chance to do something about it!
Organising a themed fancy dress party is a great way to see your New Year’s Eve from a different angle. From the decor to the music, from the costumes to the buffet, it’s all there for a memorable change of scenery!
8. Spend the weekend in an amusement park
Yes, some of you have children, or have kept their childlike spirit! So open your eyes wide in wonder and immerse yourself in a marvellous world far away from this heavy reality that we’ll return to soon enough!
Photo credit: Disneland Paris
The best parks in Europe for a magical 31st :
- Disneyland Paris
- Futuroscope
- Europa Park in Germany
- Port Aventura in Spain
- Plopsaland in Panne, Belgium
- The Efteling in the Netherlands
9. Rent unusual accommodation with friends
This year, far be it from you to mingle with the crowds! No private parties, crowded nightclubs or far-flung trips. You’ve found some unusual accommodation, perfect for an unusual evening out!
Here are a few ideas if you’re short of inspiration:
- A tepee
- A yurt
- A tree house
- A cottage lost in the woods
- A floating house
- A lighthouse
10. Taking part in solidarity actions
Sometimes all we need is to do something good for those around us. In today’s world, there can never be enough outpouring of solidarity, mutual aid and moral and psychological support.
The festive season can be a very difficult time for those who are alone, for the most disadvantaged and for people who have nowhere else to go.
Giving a little of your time can make a real difference. Contact your local town hall to find out about local initiatives.
Here are some associations you can contact:
- Les Restos du Cœur
- Les Petits Frères des Pauvres
- The Order of Malta
- The Salvation Army
- Clowns Without Borders
Find out more on the France Bénévolat and Tous Bénévoles websites to put you in touch with the various associations.
11. Spend a spiritual 31 celebrating Yule
The end-of-year festivities have been smoothed out over the centuries in our modern societies. Capitalism and Christmas films have taken precedence over ancestral traditions. Why not return to our roots and celebrate the pagan festival of Yule.
This festival is the Sabbath of the Winter Solstice, a celebration full of joy and hope.
In our hemisphere, the Yule season represents nature’s well-earned rest. Snow covers the ground and some animals hibernate. It’s a time for us to slow down. It’s a time for contemplation and introspection.
Nordic societies celebrated the 12 nights of Yule, a period that begins around the winter solstice on 21 December and ends on 1 January. The longest night gradually gives way to the lengthening days. Light and warmth are celebrated. Rebirth after death.
Here are a few little rituals for a magical evening:
- Prepare the Yule log and engrave your wishes on it
- Build a fire and let the crackling flames lull you to sleep
- Tell stories over hot chocolate
- Light candles
- Decorate your home with items gathered from nature after giving thanks
- Meditate
- Drawing cards
- Write down on a piece of paper everything you don’t want to take with you into the New Year and burn it
- Visualise what you want to happen in your life
12. Have a Cocooning evening
Not everyone wants to party until the wee hours of the morning! The pressure to have the best night of your life at all costs can be very heavy for some people.
Don’t panic, you have the right to do nothing and enjoy a Netflix-Chill evening under the blanket, on your own or with someone else!
The last evening of the year can be perfectly devoted to well-being and glandularity! Bubble bath, glass of wine, comfort food, romantic comedy or TV series marathon, it’s up to you. Once again, the important thing is to do yourself good!
Now you’re spoilt for choice…
Whatever you choose, do what you love to start the New Year on the right foot!
200 audioguided tours for cities all around the world
Download
