"The new year is the time at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increases by one. Many cultures celebrate the event in some manner and the first day of January is often marked as a national holiday. In the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar system, New Year occurs on Jan. 1." -Wikepedia
HOW ABOUT YOU?
What does the start of a new year mean to you?
Is it just another day; or is it a momentous time of the year when you pause to contemplate the current state of your life?
Do you strive to make positive changes in the coming year; or resign yourself to the probability that resolutions likely won't last the year, anyway, so why bother?
Do you ring in the new year with fireworks and laughter; or let your year begin with quiet, peaceful solitude?
There is no right or wrong way to welcome the new year. No correct or incorrect answer.
When I was younger, we had a blast 'ringing in the new year' with a family party, games, fireworks, and of course Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
In recent years, those traditions don't seem quite as important as they once did, and I'm happy to put on my pajamas, fuzzy slippers, and snuggle down at home with my husband until I fall asleep far before the ball drops.
THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
Cultures around the world honor their own unique and festive traditions to celebrate the start of a brand new year. It's been going on for centuries.
We celebrate the changing of the year on December 31st/January 1st on the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar most widely used around the world today. It was introduced in 1582 and eventually replaced the Julian calendar used during that time period.
(*If you want to learn more about the Gregorian calendar, click the link above)
HOW KOTW USES THE GREGORIAN CALENDAR
In my novel KEEPER OF THE WATCH, a large part of the premise of the novel is based on the Gregorian calendar's passage of time.
These excerpts from KOTW were taken from Chapter 17. This is the scene where Alyx explains the watches to Chase.
"...he forged the very first watch, and connected it with the Gregorian calendar year, which is the calendar we still use today.”
"Keepers can only be children who are born on the first day of the fist month, the second day of the second month, the third day of the third month, and so on consecutively up to the twelfth day of the twelfth month. Only children born on those calendar days have the ability to couple with their family’s watch."
Alyx and Chase (if he connects with his watch) will spend the new year jumping to Dimension 1 on January 1st. They don't know what they will find there, just as we don't know what the new year will bring for us.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
However you choose to spend your New Year's day, make sure you take some time to think about your year ahead.
It's not really about how you bring the new year in.
It's about how you spend all the days in between the first day of the year and the last.
Resolve to take some time to do something that makes you happy, and those around you will feel the joy you spread by taking care of you.
For me, that's writing. What is it for you?
Happy 2018!
Kristen L. Jackson, Author of KEEPER OF THE WATCH release date 2/1/18
Available for Pre-order at:
Find Me On: