The New Year is like a joint for the age of the world, the same as each of our birthdays, a joint for our own age. The connections continued to grow every year like a gold chain around a virgin's neck.
Most people celebrate the New Year spectacularly, some people celebrate it simply. However, there are those who ignore it, and some even forbid it, such as in Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Since several years ago, this area, especially the city of Banda Aceh, has banned the celebration of the New Year.
While in 2008 or 2009, I still remember, Simpang Limong in Banda Aceh -- which is the center of all student actions because it is the biggest intersection in the middle of the city -- being the center of the (AD) New Year celebrations.
Leaves from a lush tree in Banda Aceh, in the new year 1 January 2023. Photo by Me. Recorded with a Samsung A03 mobile phone camera,
Thousands of fireworks burned, the sound of trumpets sounded all over the city streets. It seems that, that year, the celebration of the New Year in Banda Aceh was the liveliest in Indonesia. At that time, our newspaper, "Harian Aceh" published the main story on the front page with the headline "Banda Aceh Serambi Roma" with a large photo of fireworks covering the sky of Banda Aceh City.
The title was chosen because the cultural nickname for Aceh is "Serambi Makkah". At that time the Islamic law had not been ratified by the Government of Aceh. The feeling of freedom having just ended from years of war and recovering from the tsunami disaster made people celebrate something big and freely.
Yet, somehow, the fanatics managed to influence the legislators in the Acehnese government. In fact, when it was implemented, the Islamic Law in Aceh was just a game by officials for the popularity of the institution. Nothing was actually done, because it was impossible.
After the Islamic Law was passed, the celebration of the (AD) New Year was slowly criticized and then officially banned.
Our government prohibits the celebration of the (AD) New Year, while all calendars are recorded with the Gregorian date, including the date of birth of them and their own children, and they celebrate their birthday which is recorded with the Georgian date.
For several years now, there have been no celebrations in Banda Aceh during the (AD) New Year. Celebrations of any kind are prohibited. Appeals were posted all over the city. The officers were driving around in a pick-up truck while talking through loudspeakers, reading the ban.
Government officials, in a dark green official car, announced that the people of Banda Aceh City would not hold any events to celebrate the New Year 2023, on December 30, 2022. Photo by Me. Recorded with a Samsung A03 mobile phone camera.
They forbid it, while noting in their office with the Gregorian calendar, going to work January 2, 2023. Such silliness has become our daily life in Aceh. Ironically, it really amuses us. AD New Year celebrations are prohibited, but in mosques, schools, government offices, Islamic education (dayah), it is recorded with the Gregorian calendar.
The people of Aceh use two calendars, first, the Gregorian calendar, called AD. Second, the Hijri calendar. These two calendars apply de facto and de jure because there are religious events and rituals that are calculated using the Hijri calendar, while government administration is calculated according to the Gregorian calendar.
How About Myself?
I'm actually celebrating New Year 2023, in my own way. A few hours before January 1, 2023, I posted my first post on the great hive.blog community.
In addition, in December 2022, I have completed all the affairs of the year and prepared plans for this year 2023. However, I can't possibly burn fireworks and blow trumpets, out of respect for the government here.
Even so, great members of the @hive community, the fireworks of my spirit are still burning, and the trumpets of our love are still ringing throughout the ages.
Leaves from a lush tree in Banda Aceh, in the new year 1 January 2023. Photo by Me. Recorded with a Samsung A03 mobile phone camera.
We are travelers in the wilderness of this world
Stop from one place to another
Nothing, that can, stand in the way of determination
Nothing can, hinder love
Even so, everything is limited in time
Beauty and somber
Hope and memories
We are travelers
In the wilderness of our hearts.
Happy New Year 2023!
Thank you,
Kind regards
Thayeb Loh Angen.
Thank you for bringing us awareness about your part of the world. It seems you live under more social stress than me in Ibiza (Europe). I hope 2023 is a good year for you and your novels sell well!
Thank you, @ibizaki. There is more social pressure here than in some of the other places around it. In your place, the people have freedom of thought and action. I love your prayers about my book. Happy new year 2023.
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