Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

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Happy New Year! How that wheel turns 'round...

Officially, for the current dominant culture of the country where I live, the new year begins on January 1st. I don't really remember when I started celebrating the new year on November 1st, as dictated by the Wiccan calendar; it's just the time that feels right to me. Harvest is ending. We're sliding into the long winter, time for contemplation, renewal, and preparing to face the spring. I like the idea that we can start the year with a nice, long, blanket-swaddled nap. So happy new year, from my calendar to yours.

This past year has been an absolute roller coaster ride. High points have included my first-ever visit to Australia (and winning the CAMPBELL AWARD OMG), publishing not one, but three books, under two different names, a good half-dozen conventions, ranging from the massive (San Diego forever!) to the small and intimate (Spocon rules!), winning my third Pegasus Award, and finishing three more books. I never said I was all that fond of sleep. Low points have included exhaustion, travel woes, illness, and throwing my back out. On the balance, I'm calling it a win.

Whether today is the beginning of your year, the beginning of your holiday season, or just another Monday, I wish all the best to you and yours. May your days be sweet, your fires be warm, and your skies be filled with stars.

Happy New Year.
Tags: contemplation, state of the blonde, this is halloween
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  • 47 comments
For us, the year ends on Oct 31 and starts at the Winter Solstice. In between is the Fallow Time, on the theory that every living thing needs some down time.

Except you, obviously! :) Congrats on your past wonderful year. May the coming year be even better.
Thanks, and the same to you!
<3

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Awesome.

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Lovely!
Happy New Year!

I have decided to continue to believe it to be Fall through November, and not put up any Christmas decorations until Dec. 1. This means I am going to leave my Halloween decorations up for another week or two, until I am ready for Thanksgiving. So, I am not quite up to starting the new year, though I like your start date better than the norm for our area.

I will however, allow myself to buy Christmas stuff after Thanksgiving but before December, for I fear it will be all be gone come Dec 1. Due to the 'buy your Halloween decorations in August' theory that store owners seem to have. Currently, the year in my mind, starts with the preparations for Christmas Eve.

I suspect All Saint's Day is a much better start for the year. It means that one has some time to get used to the new year before the 'wow it's too darn cold' kicks in, those giving a the year a better start.

I think this is an excellent plan. I do hate Christmas coming out this early.
Happy turnings of the wheel from Beltane-land.
Enjoy your spring and summer!
Happy new year, bunny. <3
Happy new year.
Happy New Year to you as well.
PUNKINS.

sheistheweather

6 years ago

LOL, happy New Year! Myself, I took today off as a "religious holiday!" I didn't tell my boss that, just asked for a "vacation day," but that's essentially what it is for me. :D
Oh, clever you!
Thank you. :) You too!
Yay!
Happy New Year!
*paper horn thingie*
*confetti*
*kermit arms*
Heeeeeeee.

ohari

6 years ago

And many, many Pumpkin Spice lattes.
Mmmmmm.

Noms.
I was just explaining the whole Samhain, All Hallows Eve, Celtic New Year concept to the Ballerina aka Witchy Poo yesterday before we went out. She listened and nodded a lot. I'm sure the stories will start popping up in the coming weeks. Maybe they will replace the "Zombies are cooler than Vampires" argument she and the Pre-K class have been having for the past week or two.

Happy New Year to you.
Thank you! And hugs to the Ballerina.

silvertwi

November 1 2010, 21:54:08 UTC 6 years ago Edited:  November 1 2010, 21:54:30 UTC

It's the start of NaNoLand! The best part of the year to me. Crazy writing sessions before, in between, and after classes and all.

I like this time for a new year, although I have yet to celebrate it as such--because Oct 31/Nov 1 is really "midseason" for me on my school calendar. It's more like the new year is Midsummer, to me. You get to start fresh in September! :)

ETA: Oh, and happy new year!
Awesome!
To you as well!!
Happy New Year, Seanan! It's rather fitting to do it on this day down here, because we've just gone into spring. Speaking of new things, are there any plans to publish all the Velveteen stories together? I've adored those since discovering this LJ and have thought they'd make a great short fiction collection or even done as a graphic novel format, providing you had the right artist.
Not presently, because the series is not yet done. Maybe someday! That would make me happy.
LJ ate my first response to this so let's try to recreate it....

First of all *hugs* to you for your year on both ends of the spectrum.

I acknowledge a number of "New Years" and find them all relevant and useful in various ways, but what do you expect from someone who's basically a relativist :). Your mentioning this one, takes me instantly to the words of Susan Cooper in The Dark is Rising series with the line On the day of the dead when the year too dies :).

Thank you for the good wishes and I wish you a wonderful year of the same full of joy and wonderment.

Thank you, and all the same to you.
Happy new year, dear my blonde.
The same to you, my darling.
sweet! Happy New Year :)
Happy New Year. :)
Happy New Year to you too, sweetie. Your friendship- and literature- have made my year just ending, one of my more difficult to date, easier to bear and more pleasant to wake up in.
Thank you.
Happy New Year! It makes sense to me.

BTW, Kellis-Amberlee is on track -- "Virus breakthrough raises hope over ending common cold". Now all it needs is Marburg Amberlee, and in three years time...
YAY!

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Happy new year!
And a happy new year to you :)
Same to you!