It’s almost time to bid goodbye to 2012 and usher in a New Year. In the distant past, it wasn’t simply a matter of sharing memories and recalling events. The ‘old year’ had to be conducted out properly so the New Year could bloom and thrive. This was often done by carrying a straw dummy through village streets, setting the effigy on fire, then burying it or drowning it in a stream. Spirits freed by the winter solstice were driven away or destroyed by the act, allowing the New Year to arrive unimpeded.
Villagers might also turn the night into a street masquerade by donning masks and costumes in order to conceal their identity from malevolent forces. Disguised, they embarked on a night of ‘town rattling’ in which they banged on drums, pummeled the sides of houses with sticks, and raised a hullabaloo. The racket sent the ghosts of the old year, already waning and sluggish, fleeing from the commotion. Imagine a combination of Madri Gras and trick-or-treat with a lot of tricking going on.
If you’ve been a follower of my blog for some time you might recall a post I did in June called “The Magic of Betwixt” about transitional moments. Think dawn, dusk, the stroke of midnight…ephemeral channels between elements of time. I’ve always been drawn to these periods, attracted by the enchanted yet elusive quality of their passage. Quick-silver moments, they slip by as fleeting as a breath, hovering on the cusp of Otherworld. New Year’s Eve is perhaps the most celebrated betwixt moment of all.
When the clock strikes midnight magic will happen, conjured from the chime of laughter, the hush of a loved one’s kiss, the bewitchment of reminiscing, the exhilaration of fresh possibility. There is no need to ‘rattle away’ the ghosts of the past. We learn from phantoms as well as memories. Time moves forward regardless, but I like to think it enjoys taking us along on the ride.
Finally, I love the song Auld Lang Syne, so I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to share it. I’m not much of a vid person, but this is a hauntingly beautiful rendition performed by the Scottish folk group, The Cast. Enjoy!
From the Pen of Mae Clair 
Once again, deeply enlightening! Thank you for sharing this info. Happy new year, Paul
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Thanks, Paul. Love your blog! Happy to see you here. Enjoy your New Year!
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Beautiful rendition of Auld Lang Syne! It gave me chills. I loved your last New Year myth best…the softness, the reflectiveness…the kiss. 🙂 It fed my romantic soul.
Now if only I could figure out where the pickled herring fit into the new year madness!
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Hi, Kitt. Happy New Year! New Year’s Eve always feeds the romantic in me. :)Strange how I never really appreciated it when I was younger.
I’m glad you enjoyed the rendition of Auld Lang Syne.I thought it was beautifully done and couldn’t resist sharing!
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Loved that rendition of Auld Lang Syne! You have me picturing people really creating havoc with their banging of houses on New Years. Thank goodness that tradition doesn’t happen anymore! Happy New Year Mae!
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Happy New Year back’atcha, L.J.! I bet those villagers had awful headaches the next morning, LOL They’d need something soft and soothing like listening to Auld Lang Syne :).
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Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year.
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Happy New Year, Sherry. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
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Thanks for sharing the myths. It makes feel inclined to stay up for that magical hour instead of crawling to bed for my long winter’s nap. Happy New Year, Mae!
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Happy New Year, Stanalei. I’ll be up watcing the ball drop with hubby and toasting the New Year with champange. I can’t remember the last time I missed toasting the New Year (although the next day I feel like hiberanting, LOL).
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Stunning. Happy New Year.
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