It’s a bit off the mark of the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
So I wouldn’t even call it arbitrary. It’s highly relevant to a person on Earth, waiting for the day when nights start growing shorter and we can look forward to a spring harvest season.
I might argue that the problem with the New Year is that we don’t also celebrate the Summer Solstice (longest day of the year) and the two Equinoxes.
It’s a bit off the mark of the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day of the year in the northern hemisphere.
So I wouldn’t even call it arbitrary. It’s highly relevant to a person on Earth, waiting for the day when nights start growing shorter and we can look forward to a spring harvest season.
I might argue that the problem with the New Year is that we don’t also celebrate the Summer Solstice (longest day of the year) and the two Equinoxes.
If it was the winter solstice it wouldn’t be arbitrary.