Most of us are familiar with the concept of New Year’s, whether we actually follow its prescribed traditions or not.

Ostensibly, we gather on New Year’s Eve to count down the year’s last hours, minutes, and eventually seconds. Then, we welcome the New Year with hugs, well-wishes, and perhaps a kiss or two.

Once the New Year arrives, there’s also the divisive tradition of setting ‘New Year’s Resolutions’ for self-improvement over the next 12 months.

Traditions aside, we at the Register wanted to know what New Year’s really looks like for Faribault County residents.

Do you actually stay up until midnight on New Year’s Eve? And, do you really set New Year’s Resolutions? 

Finally, as we bid 2023 adieu, we wanted to know what you thought of it. Was it a good year? Or, will you be glad to see it go? 

We decided to answer those questions by polling as many Faribault County folks as we could find.

Here is what we learned.

New Year’s Eve

Did Faribault County residents stay up until midnight to greet 2024? 

While the response was not overwhelmingly ‘yes,’ a narrow margin of you – 41.2 percent – said that you intended to stay up until midnight. Meanwhile, 31.4 percent of you said you were going to try to stay up, but you weren’t confident you’d actually make it to the New Year.

Those who had plans to stay up late celebrating said they planned to do so with friends and family.

Many of you also said that you would while away the last hours of 2023 playing games.

One woman explained that playing games increases your odds of staying awake. However, she cautioned that if the game is too fun, you might actually miss the moment when the clock strikes twelve.

Other New Year’s Eve plans included watching the Vikings or a movie, eating chicken wings and popcorn, and, in one unique case, preparing a tyrannosaur footprint cast.

However, plenty of Faribault County residents said the possibility of them making it until midnight was just a ‘maybe’ – 7.8 percent – or a definite ‘no’ – 19.6 percent.

Some of you cited work as the reason. A few people were working on New Year’s Eve, while others were scheduled to work the next day.

And, some of you simply weren’t interested in the traditional New Year’s Eve hullabaloo.

As one woman said, “It’s coming anyway, whether I stay up for it or not.” 

New Year’s Resolutions

A large majority of Faribault County residents, 51 percent, were certain they would not be making a New Year’s Resolution this year.

One respondent explained that she never keeps her New Year’s Resolutions, so she doesn’t bother making any.

That being said, 9.8 percent planned to make multiple resolutions for 2024, and 17.6 percent planned to make at least one.

21.6 percent, meanwhile, hadn’t ruled out the possibility of making a resolution, but hadn’t decided on one as of last week.

Many who had selected a resolution for 2024 intended to improve their health in some way.

Several of you are resolving to exercise in the New Year. Multiple respondents also said they are resolving to lose weight.

Lots of you want to improve your mental health and mindset by being more positive, being grateful each day, or growing as an individual and as a family member.

One person said, “I want to be a better mom, grandma and friend, be more lighthearted and accepting of all.” 

A few respondents plan to grow in other ways by setting career-specific resolutions for 2024, or learning a new skill.

Other resolutions included unplugging more often, procrastinating less, and saving more money.

Finally, one respondent said, “My resolution for 2024 is to take time to enjoy the present. As a society, we spend so much time waiting for the next big thing, or filling our schedules too full … this year I want to spend more time with family and friends, and make sure they know how important they are to me.” 

Assessing 2023

In retrospect, how does Faribault County feel about 2023? To assess the past year, we asked you to give it a letter grade from A to F.

Some of you are happy to see 2023 come to an end, but most of you were fairly generous when assigning it a grade.

A majority of you graded 2023 in the ‘B’ range. 49 percent of you gave it a ‘B’ or ‘B-.’

As one respondent explained, “It seemed like a tough year, but I am blessed in many ways, so I can’t complain too much.” 

Another person said, “Great year, but it had some losses that kept it from being an ‘A.'”

Those of you who will look back fondly on 2023 – particularly the 13.7 percent who awarded it an ‘A’ – said it was family, friends and good health that made it a great year.

One person attributed their ‘A’ grade to “a healthy, growing family,” adding, “I am surrounded by so many amazing people in my life.” 

Others attributed 2023’s positive qualities to the smaller things in life. You listed among these gardens, anniversaries and awards.

However, some of you have a less rosy view of 2023. Quite a few respondents – 27.5 percent – gave it a ‘C,’ ‘C+,’ or ‘C-.’ Most reasoned that 2023 could have been worse, but it also could have been better.

“It had its many ups and downs,” one person reflected, listing personal losses among the hardships they experienced in 2023, along with worldwide issues like war, violence, injustice, natural disasters and a difficult economy.

Multiple respondents also cited political turmoil as one of 2023’s biggest detractors.

Finally, some of you were not at all enamored with 2023. 7.8 percent awarded it a ‘D,’ ‘D+’ or ‘D-,’ while one person gave it an ‘F,’ adding that they are very much ready to see this year come to an end.

Most of you, however, were able to find some good in the past year.

“Always a silver lining,” one person reasoned.

Whether your 2023 was good, bad, or somewhere in between, we at the Register hope that 2024 finds you happy and well.

Happy New Year, Faribault County.