Old Year New Year

The Myth of January 1st

31 December: the last day of the year… or not really?

New Year didn’t always start on the 1st of January.
Aligned with the seasons, many calendars had the year begin at the Spring Equinox (usually March 21st) — a time of renewal and new life.*

So what if we don't see 31 December as the end of the year, but simply mid-winter? A season of slowing down, letting go, and preparing beneath the surface. Then you have almost 3 more months for this process to set your 'New Year's Resolutions' 😊

Letting Go

Sometimes letting go can feel like taking off your favorite heavy winter coat:
you love it, it keeps you warm, but its weight has become restrictive.
Taking it off may leave you feeling cold for a while, but that temporary discomfort is preferable to the heaviness of staying stuck.
Holding onto things, people, or ideas that leave you heavy-hearted, anxious, stressed, or confused becomes self-sabotage.

Moving forward means choosing yourself; choosing to go into the unknown; like seeds underground in wintertime; waiting for the spring.

Historically: from natural to administrative

*Historically, many calendars had the year begin in spring, with Aries — the first sign of the zodiac — marking the start of a full 12-month cycle.
1 January only became the first day of the year under the Julian calender, moving into a more linear, fixed and adminstrative system of time.
When calendars changed, 1 April became April Fools’ Day instead of the beginning of the New Year. People who still celebrated the New Year around the Equinox instead of on January 1st were mocked, hence "April Fools."

Interestingly, we’ve adopted January 1st as the New Year regardless of whether it truly fits our natural rhythms. Like nature, our growth isn’t linear — our lives also move in cycles.

What else in our lives do we follow simply because it’s set-up, expected, or 'normal,' even if it doesn’t align with the way we feel, naturally learn, or live?