On New Year’s Eve, millions of people around the world look back on what they have accomplished from the past year. It gives a time for the world to start over and begin new things.

New Year’s Eve is a time for new beginnings. It is a holiday where people look back on what they have accomplished instead of looking back on how they have failed. On this unique holiday, many individuals and their friends and family celebrate with a party and watching the ball drop.

This December holiday is celebrated on the night of Dec. 31, and people celebrate this day of starting over in many ways. Some people celebrate New Year’s Eve with family members and surround themselves with people that they love.

Erin Del Castillo, principal of Riverview High School, said her neighbors gather for family fun.

“In my neighborhood they have a small cul-de-sac, where there is a festival with games, and they invite friends and family and the kids play around while they wait for the new year to begin,” she said.

Spending this memorable time with caring people can create lasting memories.

Some people go out of state, while others stay local, which is okay, because New Year's isn’t about location. Ella Greene ‘22 said she alternates between friends and family for her celebrations.

“I will go to my friend’s house some years and my family's house in others, but the place we go isn't important, because it’s the people we are with to start the new year with,” Greene said.

Greene is right. It is super important to focus on whom we surround ourselves with. The best start to a new year is to be with people we love.

A similar tradition worldwide is making a new year's resolution. New year’s resolutions are something that people use to create plans and goals for the new year. Ashlee Kate Lenz ’22 tries to make the holiday be the starting point for self improvement.

“Every year I make a New Year’s resolution to get better grades and push myself to become an even greater person,” Lenz said.

Aside from making New Year’s resolutions and spending time with family, many people have their own unique traditions. Kate Fleming, ‘22, says that her family, has a particular New Year’s Eve ritual.

“Every year at midnight, we eat 12 grapes for good luck in the new year,” she said.

These interesting and unique traditions can be very special in many families. People around the world celebrate this day in all different kind of ways that can carry through generations.