12 months later

So here we are, at the start of a new year. And...?

What is it about humans that make this cyclic period so exciting? And why choose this particular part of the cyclic period to make big hooray? (Let alone the rest of the planet only slowly joining in over the next 24 hours at their psychologically appropriate moment.)

I feel the same way about birthdays. It's an entirely artifical moment created by our definition of time, which is entirely forced upon nature. That nature doesn't care is just one of the reasons why we have to make adjustments every now and then.

Never mind Christmas, this is really the time to say "bah, humbug!"

Edit: Hey, I see the Bad Astonomer is on my side! He really goes to town on the whole calculating time side of things...