Reflections
on New Year’s Day
Two aspects of NWD that I
find interesting is the relational nature of the day—in that it is experienced
across the globe at different times—and that it is largely arbitrary. These
aspects make the day special and unique.
First: the relational nature of the NWD. Most people do not seem
to pay much attention to the fact that the world covers 24 time zones, for they
are focused on their specific locale. Rarely is much thought given to the fact
that people in other parts of the world experience the day at different times.
Perhaps this is most apparent when we watch sports from the west coast and
wonder why they are occurring so late in the evening though it is still “prime
time” in their local area.
New Years Day and New Years Eve then allows us to recognize this
phenomenon, for we notice that places like New Zealand and Australia have
already “brought in the New Year” before we even get up, and that when “the
ball drops in New York City”, it is still several hours away in Los Angeles or
Honolulu. In fact, these are among the last major cities to welcome the New
Year. Thus for the many, New Years Day allows us to feel connected to the wider
world, for like our counterparts in Asia and Europe, we are waiting our turn to
greet the New Year. A sense of community even if short-lived and largely
obligatory exists, for we all celebrate the arrival of a new year.
The second issue—the
arbitrariness of this date—is likewise intriguing. January the 1st
was chosen by decree from Pope Gregory, who sought to modernize the church –
and by extension the calendar. Over time the world accepted the Pontiff’s new
reckoning and began using the Gregorian calendar for religious as well as civil
matters. Centuries have passed. So, that today even civilizations using older
calendars than Europe, such as China, embraced the Gregorian calendar at least
for commercial purposes. The same likewise is true for Eastern Rite Christians
who unlike their Western counterparts, failed to recognize Papal authority, and
kept as part of their religion the older Julian calendar. Like modern Chinese
however, contemporary Old Russian Believers celebrate New Year’s Day, from a
civil standpoint as January the 1st. It has become standard.
Yet for most people the decision to begin the New Year on January
the 1st is unknown and unimportant. Gregory could just have well
placed the beginning of the New Year in March or April, when the plants and
animals are reborn. Additionally for the vast majority New Years Day seems to
have no religious or spiritual significance. It is a time to celebrate and
reflect, but not necessarily in any dogmatic way.
Thus January 1st is New Years Day because years ago—and
far away- a Pope decided that it would be so. As if on cue, people throughout the world
celebrate. The fact that this day begins on January 1st, which for
many is in the middle of winter (for others it is in the middle of summer),
appears to have no significance. Stores
and restaurants are open. Airplanes fly. White collar professionals and
students are off. The world does pause—but not stop—and celebrates without
context, a day that could have been picked other than in the middle of one of
the four seasons. At its core, as practiced today, New Years Day is arbitrary
and ordinary. Somehow though, it still becomes special. Maybe it’s the floats.
