Question

I have a question that I hope somewhat out there can answer for me. What's the big deal about New Years?<br />n<br />nThis ought to tell you how clueless I am about popular culture because I can't figure out the whole thing about New Year. Today is just another day like yesterday. A day to be savored and enjoyed since there will be no other day like it ever again. A unique and wonderful day that follows a different unique and wonderful day the day before. The only difference is the number in the Year. Not a big deal in my opinion.<br />n<br />nA large majority of the people go out and party on New Year's Eve in some strange ritual I don't understand. I never have figured out the reason for the party. Are you celebrating the end of a horrible, rotten year and drowning your sorrow in booze, or are you celebrating the change in the number on the Calender in desperate hope that somehow things will be better? These things have never made sense. Drowning your sorrows in booze never accomplishes anything and hoping things will be better without changes in who you are and how you do things is fruitless. Just because the number in the Year changes doesn't mean things are going to be better without changes in yourself, to think anything else makes no sense.<br />n<br />nThen last, why is this strange ritual in the middle of winter? To me the New Year begins when the calves are hitting the ground, the grass is getting green, and the trees and bushes are budding. The earth is showing signs of new life after the cold, hard winter and a "New Year" is upon us to enjoy and nourish. This is a New Year that makes sense to me. Admittedly, this type of New Year happens at a different time in every place in the world but at least it makes sense to me. <br />n<br />nThis ritual popular culture has us celebrating is bizarre to me and makes no sense. Today is not a New Year, just another day the cows need feed, chores need done, and life needs to continue, just like yesterday. What's the big deal?<br />n<br />n<strong>An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. Bill Vaughan </strong><br />n<br />nP.S. So what is a person who flat doesn't care about New Years called, a stick in the mud?