Today
The first Day of 2024 in Australia.... In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year: 1 January. Most solar calendars begin the year regularly at or near the northern winter solstice.
New Year's Day is a public holiday. If January 1 is a Saturday or Sunday, the public holiday moves to Monday, January 2 or 3. Schools and other educational establishments are closed, as New Year's Day falls in the summer holiday. Many organizations and businesses are closed.
When I was young, we used to celebrate the first day of the year by eating milk rice which is rice cooked in coconut milk and formed into a flat cake. Children ate this with sugar, adults with a spicy coconut sambal or curry. Today as there is just me, I may or may not make rice. It used to be the first meal of the day. It was also a day spent with family.
Traditions have died this year because of all the events that have occurred that have destroyed get togethers. Families would sit up until midnight on the 31st and when the clock chimed midnight would start cheering and kissing everyone while they watch the fireworks of their town on the TV if they weren't already outdoors waiting for the fireworks.
I used to sit in front of the TV watching every New Year burst of fireworks ...they used to last 24 hours... Today nothing. Its not a watching event anymore. I will continue with my day chores and play with the dog. Today will be no different to any other day but I know its the first day of the month, the year and of the rest of my life and this blog too.
Happy New Year...