Happy new circle of seasons

New Year's Eve (or Old Year's Day) of the Gregorian calendar was set by men to indicate a new year in the middle of winter and seems pretty random to me. Why does the year start in winter (and as it does - why not at winter solstice?)

Reading up on it I came across this TIME article which describes Julius Caesar's solar based Julian calendar as a major influence on setting January 1 as the beginning of a new year. Fascinating information, but it still does not quite explain what makes January 1 special in a solar year to set this date as the year's beginning.

time.com/6550127/new-year-celebration-january-calendar-date-history/

Anyway, January is said to have been named after the Roman god Janus, the two-faced god: One face looking forward to the new year, one face contemplating the old year. I like this image. Winter and the outlook to spring seems fitting for this kind of contemplation.

One of my favourite authors, Neil Gaiman, traditionally sends New Years messages on his blog. Here is the one I like a lot, for anyone reading my ramblings in this far-off corner of geminispace:

> May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.

> I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art - write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself. (Neil Gaiman)

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tags: #neilhimself, #newyear, #magic, #calendar, #janus

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