In college, staying up until midnight is nothing. Nobody brings out noisemakers or streamers or plants a kiss on a loved one just because it hits 12:00 am.
If we did, we’d go through a lot of party hats.
On no other holiday is there as much attention paid to the beginning of a new day. We don’t count down the hours until President’s Day, Arbor Day, or the Fourth of July (though I know some fun lovin’ pagans who count down the exact moment of Summer Equinox, that hits in the afternoon and it doesn’t get half as much the attention).
Granted, I know some children who can’t wait till Christmas. In a packed house where the oldest grandchildren end up in the living room, I have many memories involving other grandkids starting their Christmas celebration at 4:30 am ("At least they slept in early THIS year...").
Personally, in year’s past I remember creeping out to Grandma’s living room (at a time when I was granted a real bed at Grandma’s house - when you get to a certain age, you get couch status so the younger ones can bed down. I'm told I'll evenutally regain bed status someday.) sometime after 1:00 am because that meant I could legally get look in my stocking. Doing so any earlier was against the law and could potentially upset Santa. Present opening would come hours later, when the last relative stumbled out of their bed (often with the help of an anxious grandchild). But until then, in the blackness of the living room lit only by the hall nightlight, red lights in the windows, and the neon green glow of the VCR, I could start begin my Christmas celebration.
This year I started my Christmas trying to finish a chapter in a book on Giant Squid. I glanced up at the clock around 12:07. I remember quipping something like “Merry Christmas to me” before marking my spot and turning out the light. How things change….
Nevertheless, excepting the early Christmas celebrated by excited, red-eyed children (who needs dreams of sugar plums when Santa leaves real, desirable candy in your stocking?), no other holiday besides New Years gets as much attention.
The only other case I can recall where people got excited by the fact it was after midnight was the “Good Morning, Good Morning!” song and dance number from “Singing in the Rain.” Real life examples are non-existent, I am sorry to say.
The start of a new year… Exciting, I guess. Of course it will mean I’ll make lots of mistakes when recording dates for the first couple weeks. I envision many headings where the 2003 will look strangely like a 2002 with an extra loop hanging below the line.
The dateline 2003 will appear strange to me, like 2002 once did. To me, it looks like the title of a crazy sci-fi TV series put together in the 1950’s (The “1950’s,” coincidentally, looks likes the title of a crazy nostalgia themed mini-series put together in the 21st century [staring Judd Nelson, Sarah Louise Parker, and Ed Harris as Dwight D. Eisenhower]).
I suppose in time we’ll adapt, we’ll conform, we’ll get used to the whole thing.
Just in time for 2004, I’d bet.
Repeat as necessary.
Enjoy your New Year’s Eve Eve.
