Why I Celebrate the New Year in March: Embracing Seasonal Freedom Over Holiday Chaos

Living by My Own Rules: Questioning Society's Expectations

Every holiday season always left me exhausted. I didn’t have the choice nor freedom to choose how I wanted to celebrate. There was always some type of function to attend and this meant the full force of my mother coming down on me. This is why it is so important as an adult for me to choose what I want to do. A lot of folks take that shit for granted. But I know not to, because I understand what it’s like to not have that freedom. My mother always taught my sister and I that we were a reflection of the family. I enjoyed dressing up so it was never a problem for me. I’m here to talk about the freedom that comes when you live in accordance with the seasons. 

There is so much chaotic energy surrounding the holiday season, when everyone is making their new years resolutions and trying to accomplish their last minute ones from the year before. Instead of aligning with this energy, I chose to take this winter season as slow as possible. What this means for me is not going out to any social events. I stay inside warm and cozied up on the days I am off from work. I hibernate like a big brown bear. There are no big shopping trips for me and I stay far away from Black friday sales. 

Rethinking the New Year: A Historical Shift That Doesn’t Serve Me

January 1st was not always celebrated as the new year. It didn’t happen until Julius Caesar came along and standardized the calendar in 46 B.C. The shift served political and social purposes, but it also de-emphasized the importance of the cyclical nature of the seasons. I’ve been looking into the reasons why he did what he did. But with that always comes an opinion. I’m not sure there are documents I can access right now that would let me see first hand Caesar’s point of view.

When I came onto this Earth, I did not make the agreement to follow arbitrary rules set by society that have so many people out of alignment. Question everything is the mantra and motto for my life because just like this calendar, everything we learn was created by human beings with bias. It is why I create my own rules for my personal freedom, instead of mindlessly following traditions. 

When I was a girl, the holiday rush never made any sense to me. I always felt blessed with the most energy in Spring. It made sense too with the growth of new flowers and trees. I embodied the spirit of the winter solstice - a time for slowing down. March is when I will be celebrating the new year by spending time in nature, performing a house cleansing ceremony, and setting intentions by creating a 2025 vision board.

Creating New Traditions and March Resolutions

I don’t celebrate Christmas anymore. It feels good not having the expectation of going to parties and getting gifts for everyone. When I was living with my ex, he couldn’t let go of his family traditions. It made me question the real use of traditions anyways. Especially since he didn’t even believe in God. Why do parents feel the need to make their children into mini versions of themselves? Projecting their beliefs and religion onto children. 

I think the reason why I was always comfortable questioning these traditions was because my uncle and cousins were Muslim. They did not celebrate Christmas or any of the major holidays in the U.S. My mother acted like it was the strangest thing for a family not to celebrate Christmas. When I was a child I felt bad for  them because they didn’t get any gifts. As an adult now I understand the importance of having these cultural differences within my family. 

Finding Clarity and Focus Through Hibernation

Being away from the hustle and bustle is allowing my visions for the future to become clear. I feel more focused and grounded compared to past years. The lack of obligation is something that my little girl heart smiles at. I couldn’t stand going to these family gatherings because everyone was just so fake to each other. No one was sitting down to take the time to reflect, just gossiping and complaining about what is to come.

Ever since I broke away from that my mental health has become so much better. I don’t have those negative thoughts constantly flowing through my brain. There is no one putting fear into my vision and goals. Hibernating allowed me to clear away all the gunk and let the future version of me come through. 

This year, I encourage you to begin your new years resolutions in March and see what a difference it makes! Even consider creating your own traditions as an adult while reflecting on your experience as a child. Embracing something doesn’t have to be scary, it can be exciting! We love to utilize our free will!