A Son of the Rock

A Happy New Year to everyone.

In passing I hope any USian readers note the absence of the possessive (‘s) in the above sentence. Which is to say I did not write, “Happy New Year’s,” a usage I have heard on US TV programmes and which every time I do hear manages to irritate me enormously.

In Scotland (and the UK as a whole) the greeting relates to the whole year; not just to its first day. For this reason I shall still be saying, “Happy New Year,” to folks during all of next week – and beyond, depending on when I first encounter people during 2011.

It’s a culture thing. Ignore me if you like.

If you’re Chinese, or Middle Eastern, New Year is some other time anyway.