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? 