Okay, let’s get the negative out of the way first. New Years is a silly idea! Don’t get me wrong, I like celebrations as much as the next person. But New Years, in particular, is way too random. There’s no real reason why January 1st is the beginning of our calendar. It’s not based on anything other than the fact that we’ve done another circuit around the sun and even then, that’s not entirely accurate as an Earth year, astronomically speaking, is technically just a little over 365 days. This is where the leap year idea comes from; it’s a correction in the calendar. If anything, the Winter Solstice would be a better way to mark the passing of a year and has some nice symbolism too with it being the darkest day of the year. But no, the calendar experts have decreed that January 1st is the start of another year. Now that I’ve gotten that rant off my chest, I can begin writing about my New Years!
2017 is a special year for Canadians. This year marks 150 years since our country was, in a sense, born. On July 1, 1867, Canada officially became a nation and to celebrate, there are various events and programs happening across the country this year starting with grand New Years Eve celebrations. Saskatoon usually doesn’t have much going other than several private ticketed events but, thanks to a grant from the federal government, downtown Saskatoon was alive! The skating rink next to the Bessbourgh hotel was full as usual, but with a bonfire and a Tim Hortons mobile truck nearby. On the other side of the hotel, a stage for performers was booming music across the park as people wandered around. We saw a fire performer and several Inuksuks including some build your own Inuksuk. People were able to write their hopes for the country and tie them to a tree in the hopes that the wind will blow them into reality. Snow sculptures and teepees were seen and a large inflatable igloo held traditional Aboriginal storytelling. Truly, a Canadian night! And what’s more Canadian than blowing stuff up! The fireworks were absolutely spectacular. Why this isn’t a regular event in this city never ceases to sadden me especially now that we’ve all experienced the joy of it.
I started New Years Day in another quintessentially Canadian way: snowshoeing. Much of Saskatoon in winter is taken over by cross country skiers. This wouldn’t be so bad if it wasn’t for the fact that they have to have groomed trails which cover large parts of the regular trails and don’t allow for easy use by others who are also trying to enjoy the snow. After my trip to Chappell Marsh, I hoped that I may have found a new snowshoe spot and I was right: no one had been there. Unfortunately, no one plowed the parking lot either nor will they over the winter, but I parked my little car on the side of the road and waddled in. I said that no one had been there yet, but that’s not entirely true. No human visited, but the trails were covered in animal track. One spot on the trail was so trampled down that it looked like a herd of people had been there yet there were no human tracks to that spot. It’s a wonderful hike though, and not only an excellent way to start the year but a great start to my snowshoe season!
For the past 20 years, a group called Prairie Virtuosi perform a New Years Day concert. My family has gone every now and then and this year, we were very excited about this particular show as it featured 3 of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos. Another magical way to spend the start of a New Year! As was the dinner we had later that evening.
Yes, January 1st is a weird kind of day for New Years and the need to reflect on the year gone by as well as make resolutions for the year ahead become even stranger when you think of the randomness of its origins, but all in all, I don’t mind a little harmless randomness if you’re going to have a fabulous time!
Note: All pictures were taken with a smartphone and not edited