Unhappy New Year?

Another New Year is upon us. They really do come around with monotonous regularity, don't they? Right now we're in probably the worst part of any year - the bit where we're all desperately trying to adjust to real life again after the festive season. I always think it's a bit premature to be getting back to normal on only the second day of the year. After all there are twelve days to Christmas - we've still got a few to go yet. Nevertheless, a surprising number of people have already taken down their Christmas decorations, clearly believing that New Year's Day marks the abrupt end to the festivities. That's another aspect of our modern Christmas I don't like - the fact that we're being short-changed out of four days of celebration. Back in pre-Cromwellian times, all twelve days were celebrated in an orgy of debauchery. Damn it, that's what we want now!

Of course, it would help if the media didn't cut Christmas off at New Year's Day. After spending weeks building it up, they always seem in an indecent haste to sweep it under the carpet come 2 January. The TV companies can't seem to wait to revert their schedules to normal (although, to be fair, the BBC does try to maintain a semi-special schedule for a few days after New Year). Even New Year's Day seems to be downgraded in status these days. I've noticed that for a second year running, the BBC has stopped running its special Christmas idents on new Year's Eve, reverting to the regular ones on New Year's Day. The message is clear - New Year may be a Bank Holiday, but it isn't really part of Christmas, so you'd better all get back to work tomorrow. (Mind you, ITV didn't bother at all with seasonal idents this year). So what's to do? Personally, I think we need to launch a campaign, starting now, for the twelve days of Christmas to be reinstated in full. We need to demand that festivities be extended right the way through to 5 January. God knows, we need some cheer in these dark days! If nothing else, it'll help ease the pain of going back to work.