OPINION

Why do we even count down to the New Year?

Oped, Alexis McCrossen, Published on 29/12/2021

» Few people counted down to anything until the 1960s -- and yes, that included the new year. Celebrations and midnight kisses on Dec 31, of course. Countdowns, no. How, then, did the countdown go from almost non-existent to ubiquitous in the latter half of the 20th century? And why are we so drawn to them now, especially to mark one year's end and another's beginning?