Okay, so there's ontologically no real difference between 11:55 PM on Dec 31, and 12:05 AM on Jan 1. Ten lousy minutes. Another 11,177 miles covered by the earth in its repetitive path about the sun. It's only a quirk of the Julian calendar and the notion of time zones that makes it anything at all. And all it is, really, is so much symbolism - a point in time used to make a different sort of point, one of both reflection and celebration. We measure a human life time in years: how many winters one has seen. (and such winters!!)
So at a set point in time, by convention, we reflect on the passage of the prior year and the coming of a new one. It's both a look back and a fresh start. It's almost a sacramental: a tangible tool to cause one to consider a greater intangible reality. Of course it's symbolic, and has no real meaning other than a symbolic one. But symbols... are useful. Letters of the alphabet are symbols. So are rings exchanged by lovers. Or a string tied around a finger. Or tattoos (esp. shared ones - mmm). So are liturgical colors, and mascots, and corporate logos. We live in the midst of symbols, and put them to use to make the points we want to make (to ourselves or to others).
And so with New Year's Eve. The toasts, the horns, the kisses, the bells ringing, the fireworks, the resolutions. And.. the songs.
Everybody now, with me: "For auld lang syne my dear, for auld lang syne ... we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne."
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