THE WORLD OF REALITY

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AH NEW YEAR

What brings people to spend time with families during the eve of the new year?
It usually goes that whatever you do or whatever happens during the first day of the year will happen in the rest of it.

People don't spend much on new year's day for fear of having to spend every day of the year. Transportation is scarce, operators think that nobody would go riding their buses, etc. Supermarkets do not open for fear of only a few shoppers will go and will continue for the rest of the year.

Does this reflects the true essence of a new year? Is it true that everything you do in that very first day of the year is replicated along the days?

I experienced these from my childhood days. But somehow, this new year, it struck me. Why are we doing these? Just for the tradition? OK. We've got to preserve our tradition but how does this tradition get this? What part of history does this tradition started?

Filipinos have so many superstitious beliefs which are handed down from generation to generation. At times, when one belief is questioned, somehow, there's a penalty for those who dare ask for the very specific reason for such. In my hometown, still, these beliefs abound. And in cases when it is questioned, the old phrase keeps coming "Wa may mawala kon motoo ta!" ("You don't lose a thing if you believe"). Then kids and querying minds would stop.

A new year comes with new hope. A new year comes with resolutions. I tend to agree with my brother who said in his blog that, hope, faith, changes should not wait for a new year to be implemented and desired. Everyday is an opportunity to change, and for the better.

So by sticking fully to the traditional beliefs, can one achieve a better life? Is doing a thing because of tradition brings luck or is it the other way around. What if by doing the things we thought (because of tradition and beliefs) to be bad brings in more changes for the improvement of one's life? Only a few people do. I myself would like to try to move my life to the opposite side of the fence but somehow the culture that raised me gives stinging sensations to think twice. This culture is what has made us Filipinos unique and maybe the ones that made our country what it is today.

So is new year for a new beginning or just an ordinary day made special by tradition? Chinese new year does not start until February.

I am asking questions... What is the real meaning of a new year?

posted by The STRUGGLE between REALITY and what is SEEN. @ 10:37 AM