Tonight most of the world will have celebrated the end of something and the beginning of something else in a bout of excess.
But what exactly does end or begin at midnight on New Year's Eve? Not very much, I don't think. In the northern hemisphere the sun set a few seconds later than the day before and will rise a few seconds earlier than the previous morning. So what! Everything looks the same, feels the same: the winter sky (grey and dreary for the most part), the cold, the snow (provided there is any); even the headache and that annoying pain in the joints... and yet, everything is in a constant state of flux. The Earth never pauses on its way around the Sun, it simply passes the same point (more or less) in the trajectory.
And yet, humans have resolved to put and end to one cycle, which they call a year - or whatever its equivalent is in any of the existing languages - so they can start another one with a different number beside it with high hopes for something new, different, better... and resolutions, most of which are bound to fail for one reason or another. And even the moment at which one year should end and another begin is not defined unanimously. The Eastern Orthodox Christians adhere to the Julian calendar, and for them the New Year begins on January 14. The Chinese (Lunar) New Year begins any time between January 21 and February 21. Other peoples celebrate their versions of New Year in March or April, or in fact any time during one turn of the Earth around the Sun.
So, I have to admit, all this leaves me somewhat perplexed. Why is it I have to celebrate and be merry tonight of all the nights? Eat and drink to excess? Wish a happy this, that and the other to all and sundry? Why should tonight's toasts and wishes have a special meaning?
I wish the people I care about well all the time, whether or not I say it out loud (or in writing). And yet, I feel the need to wish these special people (and some a little less special) good health and happiness and prosperity during the next Earth's turn on this very evening.
Happy new year everyone!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
And a Happy New Year to you too like it or not. It is the system and we are stuck with it.
An old friend of mine once said any reason to party is a good one.
Polona, there was a time when celebrating each year was of major importance because life came with even less of a guarantee than we have now. The tradition started long before penicillin, and a myriad other medical miracles, back when life was short and hard.
Eat drink and be merry ...
Happy New Year!
thank you, dr. john. you have a wise friend :o)
qoully, my friend... yes, i know this. and this time of year does make sense - after all, the defeat of darkness and return of the light (slow as it may be) has always been reason enough to celebrate, i agree.
still, we are funny things, are humans... tied in all kinds of mores and rituals...
Great post and wishing you all the best in the New Year!
Post a Comment