I really hate New Year – and I am at best indifferent to most of the hyperbole that surrounds it. In my view the modern celebration of new year serves no purpose i.e. it is not religious celebration or the kind of bonding celebration of either family or wider community groups that makes something worth being called a tradition. I can only see it being a chance to watch lots of people get drunk, not that I am against drinking, but considering I can do that any night of the year it’s not really worth staying up for the forced, expensive, jollity of it all.
Anyway, that’s a very long explanation as to why I don’t do a round-up of the year on my blog, ever. I will however say that if there is one poetry collection that stood out for me this year is was Kei Miller’s A light song of light. You can also listen to Mr Miller reading from the collection on the Scottish Poetry Library podcast. I don’t feel I need to say very much about it as the writing, and his reading on the podcast (you must listen), speaks for itself more eloquently than I could.
I’ll be spending my Hogmanay, inside, warm, snuggling and catching up on some of the SPL podcasts I’ve missed this year. However you decide to celebrate I hope you have a good one.
A lump in the throat 
I’m with you in not celebrating Hogmanay – too many unhappy memories – but one tradition Jane & I started over 30 years ago is to have a walk and picnic on New Year’s Day. We take the salmon sandwiches and a flask of coffee, and go somewhere different every year. Anyway, my best wishes for 2011 to you and your family.
That sounds like a lovely tradition, perhaps I shall start something similar for my family. I know so many people who don’t like or celebrate New Year, perhaps we all just need to create our own traditions instead.
I hope you and Jane will have a wonderful day and a good 2011.
I could never really muster much enthusiasm for NY Eve/Hogmanay. Seemed like a desperate attempt to inject life into a dying year. I do like the cleanness of January 1st, though. Thanks for book rec- will check it out.
Let me know what you think of it Mary? I’ve not had a chance to talk to anyone else who has read it, so would be interested to hear your opinion.
Just wanted to say thanks for recommending Kei Miller. I’d never heard of him, but because of the recommendation here, I just found his poem: “If this short poem stretches” and love it immediately.
My pleasure John, I’m happy you’re loving his work. It’s been quite influential for me this year in my own writings, and when I find someone who’s work I love I find it hard to shut up about them. Glad it’s been positive for you too.