By Cheryl Chang
With New Year’s Eve on a Tuesday and New Year’s Day on a Wednesday in 2020, many people had already decided not to plan anything due to having just one day off. Some chose casual meals with friends nearby or found a spot to watch fireworks, while others had no plans or gatherings. Of course, some treated New Year’s Eve as just another ordinary day, and going solo on that night became totally normal.
More people are celebrating New Year’s Eve alone, and going out for wild parties is no longer the norm. (Photo / Cheriechang1217, the same below)
With the rise of singlehood and the growing popularity of individualism and minimalist lifestyles, many choose to act “solo” simply because it’s less hassle. Some even find solo New Year’s Eve more joyful, allowing them to focus on their own happiness and pleasure.
There are many ways to spend New Year’s Eve alone, broadly divided into two categories: at home or out. The former includes being at home with family, but in your own room — still a solo celebration. The latter can mean heading to a quiet, solitary place, or going to the movies, a concert, or watching fireworks — in a way, joining others in celebration. Some book a hotel room for a solo celebration or get a spa treatment, seeing it as a form of indulgence.
The most common way to ring in the New Year at home is watching TV while enjoying good food. For example, some flip through channels to catch live New Year’s Eve galas or watch NHK’s Red and White Song Contest, paired with their favorite snacks and drinks. No need to brave the cold or crowded spaces. Others find it heartwarming to celebrate with their pets, believing this to be the most comforting, budget-friendly, and stress-free way to welcome the new year.
Some argue that New Year’s Eve fireworks shows are costly and labor-intensive, but their tourism benefits and contributions to city branding are undeniably important.
Others spend New Year’s Eve at home binge-watching shows, sleeping in, doing chores, scrolling through their phones, or posting on Instagram. They basically ignore the occasion, treating it as any regular day. Some use the night to send well-wishes to friends, expressing heartfelt messages to loved ones even when alone.
Of course, solo New Year’s Eve also falls under the umbrella of solo travel. Some choose to spend the night in a particular city, taking part in local countdown events or traditional celebrations. Some find it meaningful, while others may feel a touch of loneliness — but either way, how you experience the day depends on your mindset, not your external situation.
Many people are still working on New Year’s Eve — convenience store clerks, bus, metro, and taxi drivers, food delivery personnel, police officers, medical staff, and more. While others are caught up in the festive atmosphere, life goes on as usual.
The solo lifestyle is thriving, and celebrating New Year’s Eve alone is no longer unusual. It might just mean fewer photos to share or a quieter presence online, where the majority of posts show parties, dinners, and all-night drinking. But there are also simple, peaceful celebrations — whether alone, with one other person, or a few — the number doesn’t matter. What counts is spending the day with a calm and joyful heart, bidding farewell to the ups and downs of 2019, making wishes, and welcoming the new year of 2020.
Catch the Taipei 101 fireworks live. Four riverside parks offer great views.
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