New Year

Can you imagine trying to ring in the new year in broad daylight?

For one, the ball drop and fireworks would be a lot less interesting. The ball is bright but it just kind of hangs in the sky. It isn’t so much shining as it is advertising. Fireworks aren’t much of a spectacle either. They’re attractive almost exclusively because of the danger. Some colors might be visible—reds and greens mostly—but blues would get washed out in the sky and don’t even think about trying to pick out yellow or white with the sun as a backdrop. Roman candles account for 87% of all sales.

On the other hand, a lot of people get New Years Eve off to make it to the midday parties. On the other other hand, daytime parties are breeding grounds for football fans and evening hangovers. Pictures from the party are in full natural light. No more dramatic tones from a bright flash illuminating the foreground while revelers in the background are barely visible sipping their drinks. Everyone and everything is on display.

Worst of all, as soon as you get home you’ve got to go for a run or else you’re already missing out on day one of your resolution. I hope you’re not hungover; the new year certainly isn’t. It’s rearing to go, right from the stroke of noon.

Aren’t we lucky that the new year comes at night?