Looking Back, Looking Forward; Farewell 2017, Welcome 2018
January (as most of you probably know) is named for Janus, the Roman god of doorways, who is always depicted with two faces, one looking back into the past, the other forward into the future. In this sense he also seems aligned to the New Year, when we, too, look back into the year that’s been and forward to what the new year, in this case 2018, may bring.
Traditionally, I understand that New Year, as opposed to Christmas, was the celebration associated with the gathering of family and friends, feasting, and gift giving in the western cultural tradition (e.g. the Scottish Hogmanay and Handsel Day, although the latter tradition has also largely died out) — and elsewhere in the world is still one of the most significant annual celebrations, regardless of other religious or cultural festivals. In NZ, though, it’s definitely overshadowed by Christmas, with the New Year chiefly marked by parties, fireworks displays, and the forming of resolutions which are chiefly honored in the breach… ๐
I do wonder if the fact New Year falls in the height of our summer mutes the traditional, northern hemisphere focus on sloughing off the old and welcoming the new that fits so well with the mid-point in winter, where despite the cold and dark people can look toward the spring — a seasonal focus that fits with Janus and January’s position in the calendar year, whereas our Southern Hemisphere New Year seems far closer to the celebration of midsummer, as I experienced it in Scandinavia (sans the resolutions.) This may also explain the growing NZ focus on Matariki, the traditional Maori festival that marks the transition from winter to spring.
Nonetheless, New Year remains the time when — together with much of the rest of the world — slough off the old year and welcome in the opportunity to begin afresh with the wonderful date of 1/1 on the new calendar. And, catching hold of that spirit of possibility and optimism, wish each other a Happy New Year.
For myself, although my aspiration for 2017 was that it should be the Year of the Book, life intervened in the form of my mother-in-law’s terminal illness and passing in the latter half of the year, so that it was far more the Year of Family and all that surrounds such an illness in the immediate family.
In many ways every year is a Year of the Book in the sense that writing continues regardless, but in terms of the “sustained periods of solitude and uninterrupted time to facilitate the creative process” I spoke of a year ago, more creative time and more creative outputs remain my aspiration for 2018.
I know that you will all have aspirations for 2018, too (& please share them in the comments, should you so wish) so I am hoping that that the coming year will see all of us realize All OF THEM! ๐
A very Happy New Year celebration to you all!
Wishing you a much happier new year, I for one am glad to see the back of 2017. Oh on a positive note, we got moved into our rebuild on the 20th so our first new year in our lovely new house. Cheers and best wishes to you and yours, Jacqui
Hi Jacqui, I know you have had a very tough year and I do hope 2018 will bring you better times. Getting into your rebuilt home (after 7 years!) is at least first-footing a positive start to your new year. Kia Kaha; arohanui.
Wishing you a happy and productive New Year, Helen.
Thank you, Marion — the same back at you! ๐