On The Blink

[poliphilo]

As it reaches its conclusion the year begins to stutter- like an engine on the blink. It stops and starts. The Solstice ought to be the end of it- but isn't. The same with Christmas. Only when we reach December 31st- a date chosen for fairly random reasons (something to do with ancient Roman politics)- does the old year properly finish and the new one get going.

The days that fall in the gaps between these temporal hiccoughs never feel entirely serious. They're holiday but not holiday. You feel at a loose end. It isn't a time for starting anything long-term.

Comments

[shewhomust]

And you can prolong things even further by declaring that Christmas isn't over until Twelfth Night, if you feel so inclined (though it doesn't sound as if you do!).

[poliphilo]

I like Christmas- but I really don't care to extend it into January. Mind you, we've still got the decorations up.

[basefinder]

That's a good description!