Our priest said that when he got to heaven he would ask God why, after all the celebration at Christmas there was another Holy Day of Obligation a few days later so heads up Catholic freepers, either this evening or tomorrow morning, go to Mass. A good way to start the New Year. It’s the Solemnity of Mary.
35 years ago today I was in labor and before midnight, my second child was born. We used to have a double party and the kids were in the basement with bubbly grape juice and silly string and at midnight we all were on the deck shooting off fireworks. Now Mr. Mercat and I fight to stay up to see the ball drop in NY and then go to bed. I usually do wake up at midnight though since there are lots of fireworks and even cannon going off.
My old parish we had Mass then a party with board games and food. All home, well before Midnight. I will be fast asleep by midnight, I have to work the next day. Even if I didn’t have to work. Starting the new year off with a hangover never made sense to me.
For many years I had always though, good grief, another holy day of obligation for I as a Catholic and one week after Christmas? Yes, for years I had questioned the need why this extra obligation for New Years.
But as I have gotten older, I realized that it is a good thing to start the new year right.
I live a couple of miles from the yearly “first night” celibrations, which includes fire work displays. One early for the kids, and then the traditional one for the adults. Could hear for the first few minutes of midnight, BOOMS.
I do in the neighborhood a yearly scream welcoming in the new year. Then I go to bed.
I thought it was the feast of the Circumcision?