2018 to 2019 – The new year
To us, it is one of the biggest changes of the year. It is when we stop reminiscing about the past and start off life with a clean slate. Even when days are short, and nights are long, the new year brings happiness to all.
Now imagine an alien sees this. All he can see is humans becoming excited, throwing fireworks, drinking extra wine, eating extra good food all because of a single change in one digit of a four-digit number. To an alien the change is insignificant. Is it insignificant? Perhaps the better question to ask is, why do we celebrate the new year?
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Historical reason for the new year
2000 years ago, the Romans didn’t have a fixed date for starting of a new year. The date of the new year would change each year; sometimes it fell in November other times it fell in December. This meant that the length of each year would also vary tremendously.
Fast forward 1500 years later, pope Gregory XII decided that he has had enough of non-fixed years. He declared new years to fall on January 1st as a tribute to the birth of Roman God Janas, God of gateways and beginning.
Astronomical
The calendar was later revamped, to make 1st January also represent one whole completion of Earth around the sun.
But honestly, I am not buying it. Humans are lazy creatures, we are simply not going to expend so much energy just to celebrate this Roman god’s birthday or our planet (which we barely notice) to rotate around the sun. Is there a deeper reason?
The Philosophical reason
Photo by Cristofer Jeschke on Unsplash
Humans like to control things (or feel as if they are in control) …
Time is an abstract concept, this is why created the concept of day, months and years. It was a way for us to feel in control.
The new year’s is another such human-like schemes; as the year goes by, we start feeling as if we are losing control. Then comes the new year; the calendar reverts to 1 and people feel as if they can gain control again of their lives.
I believe that in the process of celebrating the new year’s, people attempt to cultivate a positive attitude in order to gain control of their lives and attain all their resolutions. Like the great Aristotle once said;
“Well begun is half done”
Personally, I believe that some people go a bit overkill with the idea of new year. For example, our neighbour bought almost 2000$ worth of fireworks (what a waste!).
Anyway, regardless, of why people celebrate the new year’s, I want to wish you a very very happy new year! May you achieve all your resolutions (lose weight, donate to charity, pray more, etc.) and easily attain all your goals.
Also, don’t forget to comment your new year resolutions and what you thought of my blog post.