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When is it time to stop saying ‘Happy New Year’? An official ruling

The Spinoff Daily, Monday January 13

Jan 13

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Ahiahi mārie, welcome back to The Spinoff Daily as we resume our regular schedule for 2025.

Today on The Spinoff: The last of the summer reissues, plus a look ahead to what will be making headlines in 2025.

But first: New year, old dilemma. Tara Ward draws the line for saying “happy new year”.

“They’re only three little words, but knowing when to cease and desist with a jubilant ‘happy new year’ is a social minefield. Every January 1 we go wild about surviving another spin on the Gregorian rollercoaster of life, throwing out joyful new year greetings like a lolly scramble of festive tidings.

But come mid-January, we’re in murky waters. The year is no longer new nor happy, yet we persist in offering up these awkward greetings. Is it still the new year once you’re back at work? Once I wished a colleague a Happy New Year on January 23 and she laughed in my face.”