The passing of a moment
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I don't recall when the 'New Year' stopped being fascinating to me, but it has been many years since it has made a massive impact. As a child, I remember attending parties with my parents in which the grown ups became gradually more amusing and outgoing as the evening progressed. Eventually the moment would come where we'd all gather around a television set, usually in the corner of the room, and listen for Big Ben (the largest of the five bells in the Great Clock of Westminster) to chime in the new year. At this point, we'd join hands and sing the first few words of a song nobody really knew that well (Auld Lang Syne) before lapsing into vaguely tuneful murmurs until a familiar lyric came around.
Throughout the world, similar celebrations occur every year. Whether in family homes, pubs, bars, nightclubs or other more lavish locations, celebrations are held with the sole intention of marking the passing of a second: the end of one year and the start of the next. Why is this special? Few, if any, would mark with any great significance the passing of any other day, week or even month, however, a year is deemed notable enough that it should warrant celebrations. The arrival of New Year's Day, however, seems to bring with it nothing more exciting than a hangover for most.
The 1st of January this year marked the start of 2008. Chinese New Year isn't due for another month, but the 7th of February marks the end of the Year of the Pig and the start of the Year of the Rat—another significant milestone, since it restarts the zodiac calendar (the rat being the first animal of the twelve in the animal zodiac). Resolutions will be made—some might even be kept—but one thing is fairly certain: if we're still here next time around, we can expect once again to gather round and await the passing of a moment.