Boozing it up on New Year’s Eve is all well and good, but doing the same old thing every year gets boring. Why not add a bookish twist for a fresh start?
There’s no better way to add some flavor to a party than with a dash of literature, and New Year’s Eve is a great time to bookmark a brand new chapter in your life.
Host a Book-Themed Party
The most obvious go-to is to hold a book-themed New Year’s Eve party. Ever thought of hosting a Sherlock Holmes murder mystery dinner? Maybe a Pride & Prejudice-inspired Georgian tea party? Or perhaps a Harry Potter wizard’s gala with sparklers as wands? (Just be careful not to hold a duel with those wands; you don’t want to start off 2025 with a hospital stay.)
Whatever you choose, it’s a great way to put a new spin on New Year’s Eve. The possibilities are endless.
Take the Term “Literary Decorations” Literally
Want to make “book-themed” a bit more literal? If you love arts and crafts, consider recycling some old books into decorations. With a pair of scissors, glue, and some creativity, books can turn into a surprisingly diverse range of craft projects. You can cut out some pages for book origami, laminate book cover coasters suited for any occasion, or glue a stack of hardbacks together for a one-of-a-kind nightstand.
You can use the decorations for a New Year’s Eve party, or just plant them around your home as the latest, quirkiest fixtures.
Countdown with a Good Book
Who says you have to hold a party or join a big gathering to celebrate New Year’s? Among bibliophiles especially, introverts abound. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d prefer doing the New Year’s countdown from the comfort of my own home, nestled in my favorite nook with a good book. Bonus points if the book you’re reading has an actual countdown in it (bomb-disarming scenes included).
Granted, a good book is a good recipe for missing the New Year’s countdown entirely. But hey, that’s what the alarm app on your phone is for.
Write a List of Reading Goals for Your Resolution
If you’ve been thinking about changing something reading-wise, New Year’s Resolutions are a great chance to up your reading game. Whether you’ve fallen out of habitual reading or simply want to get into a new genre, you can draw up a list of how much and/or what you hope to read in the coming year.
If you hope to simply read more, I’d caution against being too ambitious with the resolution. While shooting for the stars is great, there’s usually a reason (busy life, other priorities) why we haven’t been reading as much in the first place. I.e., if you’ve only read three books in the past year, maaayyybe don’t set a “book a day” goal. You don’t want to feel like a failure for not achieving something that wasn’t realistic in the first place.
In other words, start with small, baby steps. If you find it easy, you can always adjust along the way.
Out with the Old, In with the New
A book that’s old hat to one person might be brand new to another, so a book exchange is well-suited to the idea of a New Year’s gathering. Whether you invite friends, family, or your local book club, everyone can bring a book (or three) that they’re willing to give away.
If you want there to be a more specific theme, you can recommend people bring books only published in the past year, or only books having to do with a New Years-related topic (beginnings, resolutions, fireworks—it’s all fair game).
To make things a little more interesting, ask everyone to wrap their books before the party and write a note describing what the book is like. Then, when the exchange begins, people can choose based solely on the attached note.
For extra fun, you can make a game out of unwrapping the books. Once everyone has a book, have each guest take a turn reading the note aloud, and then everyone (except the person who brought the book!) takes a guess at what the title is. It’s great for an icebreaker or to spark discussion among guests.
A Poetry Reading Centered on New Beginnings
For the more poetically inclined, consider hosting a poetry reading centered around some New Year’s themes. Ask for friends to bring their favorite free forms about new beginnings, their celebratory sonnets, or odes to the passing of another year.
If any of your guests like to write poetry, it would be an excellent opportunity for them to flex their writing chops, either by creating a piece specifically for the reading or bringing in an old one they think might suit. Either way, it promises to be a fun and unique way to harken in the New Year.
Join our community of 1.5M readers
Like this story? You’ll love our weekly newsletter.
Thank you for subscribing to the newsletter.
Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later.
Migz
K Lou
K. Lou is a writer born in the U.S. who found her way to Japan through a spiritual calling—or, more precisely, better access to tea. She writes about travel, culture, and the occasional creative piece, inspired by her enduring love of books. This love began in high school when K. Lou carried books around to avoid seeming odd while lost in thought. Once she started reading, she never stopped. With zero regrets, she continues to explore the written word and invites others to join her in celebrating its varied forms.
