5 Reasons Why New Year's Is the Best Holiday

It's no secret that I'm a bit of a Scrooge when it comes to the holidays. Whatever the holiday, I assure you I have an excuse or a reason for not liking it. I live by this code, with one exception...

I love New Year's Eve. That is a holiday I can get behind.

I'm sure it seems like a weird choice for some of you, but give me a minute to explain myself, and maybe you'll want to hop on the NYE bandwagon, too!

1. There's no stress

New Year's is one of the few holidays that comes virtually stress-free. You don't have to scramble to buy anyone the perfect gift, you don't have to figure out how to cook the perfect feast for your family, and you don't have to deal with distant relatives ranting about why they voted for Trump. Yuck.

2. There's no specific way to celebrate

Other holidays—namely Thanksgiving and Christmas—are steeped in tradition. You eat the same meal with the same people at the same place every year.

But New Year's changes. New Year's is dynamic. Sure, a lot of people choose to dress up and go out for a night of drinking (not this year, though), but that's by no means a rule. Plenty of people stay in and watch New Year's Rockin' Eve.

One New Year's Eve I stayed in and watched Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt with my best friend. The year before that I went to downtown Denver with some friends to watch fireworks. 

See? There are no rules!

3. It's the night owl's holiday

This is the only holiday designed to be celebrated late, and for night owls like me, it's perfect.

It's the only time of the year that I'm actually expected to stay up into the wee hours of the morning, as opposed to when I just do it all year round (and get judged for it).

4. The excitement

What's more exciting than watching a giant multi-million dollar glass ball move at a slow, painstakingly controlled pace while millions of people chant together in time? (A description that sounds a bit more Hunger Games-y than I anticipated.)

The point is that the rush of adrenaline that comes with the whole holiday is amazing. It's like all at once we see the future and the opportunities it holds, and we cannot wait to get there, which brings us to...

5. The hope

It's cheesy, I know, but you have to love the feeling of possibility that comes with a brand new year. It's a fresh start, and somehow, the next year always seems like it's going to be infinitely better than any that have come before.

So, this New Year, do whatever makes you happy. Go out or stay in. Get dressed up or rock a comfy pair of sweats. Kiss someone (as long as it's consensual!) or don't.

Celebrate this most awesome of holidays however you want, as long as whatever it is will allow you to welcome the new year with a smile on your face. Because, with some luck, it may be the best year yet!