01 January 2008

The Turning of Cycles

In modern times, new days start in the dead of night and new years start in the dead of winter. I think it made more sense back a few centuries and cultural norms, when new days started at dawn and new years started in the spring.

8 comments:

Random Michelle K said...

Happy New Year anyway?

Anne C. said...

I've never noticed that. Huh! I wonder why they chose to do it that way (the middle of the night/winter, I mean)?

Happy New Year, MWT!

Anonymous said...

Easter/Ostara makes more sense to me for a new year, too - and not for religious reasons, but just seasonality and the general feeling newness that time of year.

Happy New Year anyway!

Janiece said...

I'm still stuck in High School, where the "new year" started in the fall...

MWT said...

Happy new year. :)

Yeah, then there are school years, fiscal years, etc. etc. It's all so confusing!

Jim Wright said...

What? It's daylight somewhere? And summer?

MWT said...

Ah, good point. The Australians start their new years in the middle of summer. Which makes marginally more sense than the dead of winter, I suppose.

Meanwhile, we're having some cold arctic air down here in the south. It's gone below freezing tonight! How will we ever survive??

Jim Wright said...

Save the peaches!

Actually, I don't care - I hate peaches.