There’s something quite wonderful about the start of a new year. Around the world customs have developed to drive away the bad spirits of the old year and make way for the good times up ahead. We call upon the purifying power of fire in the form of bonfires, blazing torches and fireworks – fireworks also make loud noises guaranteed to drive away evil spirits.
It is just a moment we humans have created to mark the passing of time; when the old year ends there isn’t even a momentary pause like there is between an exhale and an inhale. Time marches on the same way it does every other night. Nevertheless, that moment when the clock strikes twelve and the minute hand on a clock clicks forward a notch has always spoken to me of hope and possibility and beckoning opportunity.
As my thoughts are on the New Year up ahead and all the wonders it is sure to bring, I found some photographs that represent the idea of ‘new’ to me; a first spring burst of green, freshly fallen snow and a sweet gangly-legged black-tailed fawn who popped out to say hello to me while I was hiking recently.
What does ‘new’ mean to you? If you would like to join in this week’s travel theme (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: New
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language and next year’s words await another voice. – T.S. Eliot
The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. – G.K. Chesterton
xxx
Ailsa
Where's my backpack? 
Happy New Year to all of you! Here’s my entry – maybe a bit strange, but it’s mine…
http://lagottocattleya.wordpress.com/2012/12/30/weekly-travel-theme-new/
I love this post, lagottocattleya, it bursts with hope and excitement about what life will bring. Happy New Year to you!
thank you so much for telling me! I love my students!
Hi Ailsa,
You take great shots. Thanks for stopping by my blog that’s not always about travel but tries to always be about expanding horizons.
Johanna van Zanten
Thanks Johanna, really enjoyed your post about Dia de la Virgin de la Guadalupe, maybe you’ll expand your horizons to join in one of the travel themes in the future! Happy New Year. xxx Ailsa
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Here is a new house: http://wp.me/p16tta-lO
Ciao
Fantastic shot, Stefano. How long ago were you in Cameroon? I love the little boy peeping through the back of the house. Happy New Year to you! xxx
Thank you, Ailsa.
That shot was taken on january 2008.
Happy new year to you too!
Hi Ailsa,
I’ll have something for you on NEW Year’s Day… seeing as you’re partly to blame for the inspiration… 😉
Have a GREAT one! Whatever you may be up to… 😛
Nice one, aj! Happy New Year 🙂
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Happy 2013, Ailsa and everyone!! http://windagainstcurrent.com/2012/12/30/out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new/
Ooh, these photos almost glow, Vlad, I can feel the promise of something wonderful just around the corner. Happy New Year indeed. xxx
I love your examples of new 🙂
Happy New Year 2013!!
You too, petit4chocolatier, have a fantastic 2013!
Such a sweet and new little deer. Love this theme. Happy New Year!
You too, Angelia, here’s to 2013
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Happy New Year! I always enjoy reading your blog and all the travels you go on – truly inspiring and also gives me a lot of travel ideas =) Wishing you happy travels in 2013 as well!
Happy New Year to you too, those scallion pancakes look sooo good! 🙂
A lovely way to end one year and start another … and a lovely blog. I’m here from Natalie Baltuck’s blog. Congrats’ on Blog of the Year 2012 award.
Wishing you many blessing in 2013.
Jamie
Happy New Year to you too, Jamie 🙂
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Happy new year to everyone.
My ‘New’ post is about the new year from Japan.
http://fotodemoto.net/2013/01/01/travel-theme-new/
Ooh, this brought back some wonderful memories, horimasa, I was lucky enough to spend a New Year’s in Japan one year, I absolutely loved it. Happy New Year to you! xxx
A new beginning… Happy New Year!! 🙂
You too, Joelle. Those blossoms are stunning, I love the lichen on the tree bark too! xxx
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A new flower – every time a plant grows a bud!
This was a lovely theme for the start of the New Year. Your photos are very appropriate.
http://brieflyposted.wordpress.com/2013/01/01/travel-theme-a-new-flower/
What a delicious burst of yellow to start off the New Year, beautiful, InaNutchell xxx
mine for this week … a two in one with another challenge themed similar 😛
http://the-serenity-space.com/2013/01/01/new/
Blessings for a wonderful year ahead Ailsa 🙂 keep up the great work 🙂
Jenn, I just love your description of the day slowly unfolding for you, May 2013 bring you much joy and happiness. xxx
What a beautiful park!
That’s actually Central Park, vastlycurious, and it is at its loveliest when it snows. Happy New Year to you! xxx
I love Central Park at all times of the year!!
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A beautiful new plant in my garden is the focus of my first post!
Happy New Year!
http://madoqua.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/something-new-for-the-first-post-of-2013
What a lovely floral treat for the New Year, Madoqua, Happy New Year to you! xxx
hi Ailsa, Happy New Year to you … love you prompt! here’s my entry: http://alwaysbobswife.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/travel-theme-new/
Happy New Year to you too, alwaysbobswife, what a pretty bride! 🙂
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I was waiting for this “new” photo to occur:
Thanks for checking it out.
Cheers!
So glad you waited, PJB, you can’t beat freshly fallen snow. Lovely shot. xxx
Thanks so much!
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Great theme for the New Year, so I decided to put it into effect – please have a look at
Mmm, that looks decidedly tasty, Professor 😉
He also makes a wicked sandwich – there’s a new post!
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Hi Ailsa! Hope i can still catch up for this week’s challenge..here’s my entry
http://smartntrendymom.wordpress.com/2013/01/02/travel-theme-new/
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!
Gorgeous post, Riah, lovely henna patterns and of course, such a darling addition to the family. Happy New Year! xxx
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A different kind of new. http://lingeringvisions.wordpress.com/2013/01/03/new-my-life-alone/
Yikes, that spider gave me the creeps. I’m so glad you shared the first day of the New Year with us, lingeringvisions. Be brave and bold in 2013, good things are bound to come your way, my friend. xxx
Thank you for that encouragement. It was right on time this morning. 🙂
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hi ailsa.. here’s my entry for this week’s theme..
Lovely photo, elizz, and yaay for taking up the challenge, posting a photo a day is no easy task. Happy New Year to you!
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A little bit late for the New Year, but I completely forgot [with all that usually goes on!] about the weekly travel theme! Apologies! Hope this post brings out a smile on people’s faces… “NEW” UNDERWEAR, as a Bolivian tradition for the “NEW YEAR”… going for luck, wealth & love in 2013!
http://3rdculturechildren.com/2013/01/03/underwear-for-new-year/
Have all a great year! Greetings from La Paz!
Haha, this is great, 3rdCultureChildren, what a fabulous tradition – I have a vision of people rushing into phone booths and public bathrooms to change their underwear at the stroke of midnight. Brilliant. Happy New Year to you! xxx
Thanks! Happy New Year, as well! 😮
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