New Year's is part of our modern celebration of the winter solstice, when the sun is at its lowest elevation in the northern skies, and the days are at their shortest. Christmas and New Year's are really the front and the end of the solstice celebration, which in ancient times was said to be designed to "call back the sun." It's true function was to release harmful emotions that were building up due to the pervasive darkness and lack of sunlight. It is a way for people to get through the worst of winter with their minds intact. Of course, the start of the year is completely arbitrary. The year should probably start on the solstice itself -- December 21. But we celebrate the "return of the sun," and it takes a few days before the lengthening of the daylight hours becomes discernable. We are celebrating the sun getting stronger, not the sun's weakest day. A "new sun" signals a new year, the beginning of hope for the future. Ten days after the solstice is long enough to see the sun strengthen.