In the Gregorian calendar, the first day of the new year is January 1. New Year’s Day is officially January 1, like Christmas is December 25. We don’t say “Merry Christmas” on December 31.
“Happy New Year” has somehow become a go-to greeting for the whole of January.
If you say “Happy New Year” to me in February, I will block you.
January 1 has been and gone, but the “Happy New Years” continue. When should we stop saying it? The Herald’s Lana Andelane shares her thoughts.
Among us mortals, the typically accepted code of conduct is that you don’t wish someone a “Merry Christmas” unless it is December 25. You don’t wish someone a “happy birthday” unless it is, in fact, the day of their birth. Holiday well-wishes are reserved for the day in question, or may be utilised over the following days with a precursory “belated”.
Working in a corporate industry, salutations of “Happy New Year” have proliferated my inbox (and in-person interactions) all week. It’s not that I don’t appreciate the reminder that I am now entering my 28th year of life and growing increasingly closer to an inevitable midlife crisis. But the New Year has been and gone: the second week of January is well underway, most of us are back at our desks, and it really is business as usual.
In my humble opinion, “Happy New Year” is like milk: there’s a best-before date and an expiry. The days around the best-before can be hit or miss, but like a cup of curdled dairy, using the greeting after its expiry can leave a sour taste in its wake. And yes, I am entering my “old man yells at cloud” phase of life.
“Happy New Year” is like milk: there’s a best-before date, and an expiry. Photo / Getty Images
So, what is the best-before date, you might ask? After conversing with my colleagues (on January 9), it seems the generally accepted timeframe for a “Happy New Year” is the first two weeks of January, maybe three at an absolute push. As many lucky ducks aren’t in the office until January 13, it makes sense that the “Happy New Years” can safely continue until the vast majority of people are officially back at work. As one co-worker put it, now is still the time for “Happy New Year and all that s***”.
“I have stopped saying it in person,” another colleague weighed in.
“I’m still saying it - and a dramatic, ‘I haven’t seen you since last year' to someone I saw before December 31,” added a third.
After January 22, however, is dangerous territory. If you haven’t spoken to the recipient since before 11.59pm on December 31, a “belated happy New Year” (emphasis on the “belated”) is probably still safe − just. We agree the greeting should be reserved for emails only − you don’t want to be the lone colleague still cheerily declaring, “Happy New Year!” on January 31. No, Graham, we’re a 12th of the way through already.
The worst offenders, of course, are those who are still saying “Happy New Year” in February. I will never forget the person who emailed me a “Happy New Year” after Valentine’s Day. At that point, you might as well be saying it in July.
There is a time and place for everything. Yes, it’s fun to revel in life’s simple pleasures and enjoy partaking in the festive exchange of seasons greetings. But like a fart, “Happy New Year” can linger too long; hanging in the air for what feels like an uncomfortably long period of time. We must treat it with respect, use it sparingly, and not wear out its welcome.
Lana Andelane is an entertainment and lifestyle journalist. She was previously lifestyle editor at Newshub, where she began her career as a news producer. She enjoys writing about music, pop culture, fashion and beauty.
