New Year's Eve... Oh joy.

It's a shame that the Christmas period has to come to a close. Three months of build-up, and after the season has disappeared faster than Sour Cream and Onion Pringles, it leaves you feeling like you missed the opportunity to celebrate it fully. So what now? Christmas is gone for another year, only the decorations remain (showing how stubborn we are as a nation for letting Christmas go). Everyone's on a downer. After all, work and school start soon, as well as all the responsibilities that come with them. Early rises are normal again, and there aren't as many films on TV. We begin to think about taking the Christmas tree down (it has to be done some time...) and the distant relatives have left for another year. Is there any way to rid ourselves of this melancholy? Oh yes. Not only that, but it'll finish off that excess booze you had lying around too. ¬__¬

Some might not like to hear this, but New Years Eve... is stupid. I could go on and on about why this is, but I'm gonna limit myself. After all, I'm sure you're either getting ready to celebrate now, or are recovering from a hangover. So I'll get on with it. 

Firstly, as anyone that can read this should know, the year is actually a circle. Just the same cycle repeating itself. Funny things, circles. We used them for transport when we learned that they roll much easier than other shapes. We also use it as a letter, and to represent nothingness. More importantly, however, a circle has no beginning. So why should we celebrate this day? Simply because it represents the start of the Gregorian calendar? Beats me. 

Maybe this is less to do with people 'letting old acquaintance be forgot' and celebrating the start of a new year, and more to do with a desire to keep the parties going. After all, the next day worth celebrating after Boxing Day (or 'Visit-People-I-Hardly-Ever-See Day' as I so aptly refer to it as) would be Valentines Day, as some people don't even like that. No, I propose the idea that people are simply celebrating for the point of celebrating. And with this comes another point. 

If people simply celebrate on the 31st of December as an excuse to have a laugh and booze it up, then what's with the silly traditions that have to be maintained? Traditions such as the counting down of the seconds to midnight, followed by the well-rehearsed chorus of 'Auld Lang Syne' (which generally features more murmuring than singing) should be cast away as archaic symbols of a society that actually cared. 

Really, my rant is not about people enjoying themselves on the 31st of December. Honestly, after all the celebrations from the past week or so, we need a good party. ;) No, my rant is aimed at those who will believe that we do all this because it's the start of a new year, because that is where they are wrong. Maybe once ago, in the not too forgotten past, we would drink and be merry to wish goodbye to the year that has passed, and embrace the new year with open arms. Sadly, the world has moved on from that, which is what will always happen. Call it evolution. No, the only embracing that will be happening this evening will be friends supporting each other, both trying to keep balance in an inebriated state, and moaning about how much of a bitch 2010 was. 

...Oh, and maybe a frisky embrace from the stranger at midnight. Watch out, ladies. 

As for me, I'll be enjoying myself tonight in the company of friends. And when the countdown commences, and 2010 waves goodbye, I'll be happy to stay sat down and think "It's just like any other day". Although if you do sing Auld Lang Syne... try to keep each other in time. 

To the whole world, I'll catch ya on the 2011 side. And have a guddun tonight. 

Dan - Shinobi14.

Quote of the day: "Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it, you can never get it back".  -Harvey MacKay