New Year resolutions: Are they only promises?

It is December 29, 2013. In two days, we will be ushering in another brand new year which will be greeted by an explosion of multi-coloured fireworks illuminating the skies at sharp midnight.

I am sitting on bed with my laptop computer, making a list of New Year resolutions, which I promise myself I would stick to throughout the coming New Year.

The list, which I began compiling two days ago, is already long. It will probably run into several pages before I complete it on December 31. I look around and my thoughts begin to stray. There’s so much to do and already my self-appointed task seems to be sliding into the back of my mind: What with Christmas festivities just over, and the New Year looming ahead, the house needing cleaning and clearing up of the mess made by guests and family opening their presents. That is my top priority. I look around and see the Christmas tree I had patiently adorned with shining baubles collected over the years, still standing erect, its decorations sparkling and the tiny jet lights still twinkling as the darkness of dusk creeps in.

The holly and mistletoe we had hung on our doorway has now been replaced with a bright gold banner with its red tassels sweeping the walls. The words ‘Happy New Year’, written in bold black felt-pen will send out a silent greeting to all our New Year visitors. I check to see if the big brass bell we used to signal the dawn of Christmas, still stands in its familiar niche in the wall. It will ring out the advent of 2014.

The fireworks are ready to be lit. From bambara chakra, ahas kuru, rachindra, thummulas, batta, cover chakra to nila (sparklers), they will light up the night skies when we light them once we return home after our usual New Year midnight mass.

Pledge

Yes. New Year is almost upon us! My eyes stray back to my list of resolutions. I have already written out 25, with more to go.

Leading the list, is my resolution to bond with my family, scattered in different parts of the globe. I have pledged that I would keep in touch with them regularly and as often as I can, via letters, e-mails, phone calls and texts. I will send them cards on their birthdays, anniversaries, the day they or their children graduate from college. I will keep them updated on current events happening in their homeland, which they miss so much.

Next on my list of promises is to learn humility in its true form; the kind that one sees in those who strive to serve others and not themselves: To know the difference between their humility and the servile, hypocritical humility seen among politicians, businessmen and opportunists.

I must learn to respect others - no matter what race or strata of society they belong to. I must be quick to forgive and forget those who intentionally or unintentionally hurt me. I must make that effort to reach out to people who have become my enemies and rebuild broken bridges that have divided me from friends, relatives and neighbours.

I must resist the temptation to gossip for rumour mongering can have very dangerous consequences.

I must show love and empathise with the suffering of others without just wallowing in my own, and I must give others more of my time and understanding.

These are New Year Resolutions I have made for myself, which, I hope, will serve equally well for my country on a larger, wider, dimension. However, New Year Resolutions are not only for adults. Children too make promises they intend keeping in the New Year.

My eldest grandchild, on the brink of adolescence feels that flouting the house rules laid down by his parents is one way to prove his burgeoning manhood. He has promised to be, “As obedient as possible; to come home before dark; to let my parents know where I hang out and with whom; and to help in the household chores by taking out the garbage every morning, watering the plants and sweeping the garden before setting out to school”.

Assignments

His younger brother, a reluctant student waiting till the last moment to finish his school assignments, promises to wake up an hour earlier to complete his assignments. “I will also help my mother to make our breakfast and will brush my teeth and have a bath before I go to sleep”.

My granddaughter has also written out her resolutions. “I will help mother to do some household chores. I will keep my room tidy and stack all my toys inside the toy box before I go to bed,” she has promised. A regular tomboy, she promised to “behave like a lady, but only when we have visitors!”

Have their parents any resolutions?

My eldest son has promised himself that he would try to respect his children’s opinions and wishes. “If they have different goals from those I had in mind for them, I will try and help them achieve those goals without obstructing them”, he said while his wife nodded in agreement.

My younger son echoed their sentiments. “It is because you respected and encouraged my wildest dreams that I became a full time dramatist despite obtaining a university degree.

“I now tell my students to do the same; ‘Follow your dreams and achieve them’ is my advice to any drama student who asks me advice on their future career,” he said.

As these whirlpool of resolutions swirl around my mind, I ask myself, my family and my readers the question; “Are they only Resolutions you make every year? Or will you really keep them at least this New Year?”

Remember that keeping those New Year Resolutions can make a better future for you and your children.

New Year customs and history

New Year is probably the most celebrated event worldwide. Most countries in Western Europe have now officially adopted January 1 as New Year’s Day. It is observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight according to the time zone of each country.

In European countries, the New Year is greeted with fireworks.

In countries such as Canada, Ireland, the UK, the US and the Netherlands, people gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the New Year. These events are known as polar bear plunges and are sometimes organised by groups to raise money for charity. Polar Bear Clubs in many Northern Hemisphere cities located near water have a tradition of holding organised plunges on New Year’s Day.

In the UK, there are many celebrations across towns and cities, particularly in Scotland.

* In London, thousands gather along the Embankment on the River Thames to watch the fireworks around the London Eye. The New Year officially starts when the Big Ben strikes 12.00.

* In Scotland, there are many special customs associated with the New Year, which are a part of the Scottish celebration Hogmanay, the Scots name for New Year’s Eve; e.g. the famous street party in Princes Street, Edinburgh.

* In Wales, Calennig is celebrated with thousands of people in the capital, Cardiff.

In Greece and Cyprus, families and relatives switch off the lights at midnight, and celebrate by cutting the vassilopita (Basil’s pie) which usually contains a coin. Whoever wins expects luck for the whole year. Later, a traditional game of cards called triantaena (31) follows.

In Nassau, Bahamas, the Junkanoo parade takes place.

In the Philippines, New Year is considered part of the Christmas holiday. Noise is made on New Year’s Eve with firecrackers and horns to dispel evil spirits and to prevent them from bringing bad luck to the new year. Tables are laden with food for the Media Noche (midnight meal), and a basket of 12 different round fruits is displayed to symbolise prosperity in each month.

In Russia and the other 14 former Soviet Union republics, the celebration of Novi God is greeted by fireworks and drinking champagne. The Kremlin’s landmark Spassky Clock Tower chimes in the New Year and the anthem starts. It is customary to make a wish while the clock chimes.

In the US, the day is spent with loved ones. A toast is made to the New Year, with fireworks and parties among the customs.

In France, some regard the weather as the prediction of that year.

In Spain, it is customary to have 12 grapes at hand when the clock strikes 12 midnight. One grape is eaten on each stroke. If all the grapes are eaten within the period of the strikes, it means good luck in the New Year.

In Sri Lanka, although the New Year according to Sinhala and Tamil beliefs begins in April when farmers offer their first harvest to the gods, January 1 is still officially the start of the New Year. The same is true in other Asian countries such as China, Japan, India and Bangladesh, which have their own New year based on their indigenous customs, but officially recognise January 1 is the beginning of the New Year.