First Night is the name of an alternative New Year’s Eve celebration begun in Boston in the year 1976. The organizers of this event promoted the festivities as an alcohol-free, family-oriented New Year’s celebration. Its success prompted an organization called “First Night International” to trademark the phrase “First Night,” so that all cities that wish to organize a festival by that name must first join the organization and pay a fee. The First Night idea has caught on, and now over 150 American cities host these festivities on December 31. First Night celebrations have also spread to a number of locations in Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
First Night festivals feature a variety of acts, events, and demonstrations showcasing the visual and performing arts. Festival organizers draw primarily on local artists and entertainers. Cities generally stage First Night festivals in a central location and the atmosphere may resemble that of a street fair. Although some open-air entertainment is available to everyone, people who wish to attend events scheduled for indoor venues generally have to buy a pass (usually in the form of a button they wear on their clothing) which entitles them to attend all the events.
One of the stated goals of First Night International is to wean people away from more boisterous, alcohol-laden New Year’s Eve celebrations. Their efforts may be viewed as the latest twist on a campaign to reform the midwinter holidays that dates back to the time of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation (see PURITANS). Over the centuries various Protestant religious groups have criticized the rowdy and often drunken celebrations that characterize many traditional New Year’s Eve celebrations. They tried instead to promote the idea that New Year’s Eve is an occasion for serious reflection on one’s past, prayer for the future, renewal of one’s commitment to serve God, and the setting of personal goals for the coming year (see RESOLUTIONS; WATCH NIGHT). The objectives of First Night International are somewhat less lofty. Beyond decreasing alcohol consumption on New Year’s Eve, they aim to promote a sense of community, provide family-oriented entertainment, deepen public appreciation for the arts, and bring new life to downtown areas.