When should we celebrate the New Year?

I do feel a bit like Dilbert: why should I celebrate an arbitrary point on the calendar?

I could see celebrating on Dec. 21 or 22 (the winter solstice),* just like pagans.

On New Year’s Eve I was so beat I went to bed at 7:30 p.m. Toronto time. I rationalized it that “real” midnight was at 0:00 Universal Time, which happens to be 7 p.m. in Toronto. Now, wouldn’t that be easier on those of us who are late-middle-aged or older?

* The 2007 winter solstice was at 20:08 Universal Time on Dec. 21, so after midnight Dec. 22 between Halifax and the International Date Line.