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How many new years in a year?
By Aditha Dissanayake
The sun went home as usual on December 31, 2003. But not everybody else. They gathered on the dancing floors of five star hotels, on beaches, and playgrounds and danced the night away.

The sun came back to work as usual on 1st January 2004. But not everybody else. The day for most, was a company holiday. Those who came to work, spent their time wishing one another a happy new year, lingered till the afternoon, complained of feeling "heavy" after eating too much kiribath, postponed work to the morrow, and left for home.

"See you next year," said lovers, when they parted on the 31st. But instead of crying and sobbing into handkerchiefs they grinned at each other. "Next year" was tomorrow.

The first of January dawned with a bang, bang and a BANG! The sound of crackers. Those who wanted to welcome the new year made sure those who did not (those who wanted a night's sleep) joined them. They were merciless in frightening the dogs on the street and in disturbing the sleep of everybody for miles around. The streets and the pavements were scattered with pieces of burnt crackers. It looked as though it had snowed in the night.

"I am at the plant nursery machang," said a young man into his mobile phone, hauling a mango plant into his cab. "The first thing I spent money on, today, is to buy a tree. I am going to plant it in the plot of land I bought in Piliyandala."

Driver Susil, the father of two daughters, says he bought a lottery ticket. "Normally I don't buy lottery tickets. But because today is the first of January, I thought I might be lucky and win the jackpot. Susil believes the staggering one million will solve all his financial problems.

Gamini the office aide of a private company carries a parcel in his hands - a ceramic jug, a gift from the management for being one of the best employees of the year. Gamini is pleased with his jug which he says his wife will like.

But not his colleague Sarath, who has a similar parcel in his hands. "I am boarded in Katubedde. I don't know what to do with a jug," he grumbles looking at the parcel in frustration. "If you don't want it, give it to me. I dare say my wife will be pleased," says Gamini. But the young man doesn't want to part with the new year gift either. He says he will give it to his mother, when he next goes home.

The labourers in the tea estates in the hill country began work by cutting the throat of a goat and smearing all the machines in the factory with its blood. This is their way of ensuring the machines won’t claim their own blood when they are at work, during the year ahead.

Milk boiling in clay pots at auspicious times, new clothes, kevum, kokis, kiribath... “happy new year!” Come April the same words the same rituals, with the dawn of the Sinhala and Hindu new year. Once again new clothes, kavum, kokis, kiribath and the deafening crackers... the celebration of another new year.

So how many new years can a year have?
Come to think of it. Three hundred and sixty five.
After all, everyday is the beginning of a new year.

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