Years ago I had a friend, culturally but not religiously Jewish, who devised a third greeting: “Happy Hanukwanzamas!” I was there the day he worked it out on a piece of paper, fitting the three words together.

One of the pleasures of being an adult is recalling the pleasures of childhood. You might think that’s one of the bummers of being an adult — but remembering can be full of its own pleasure.

The ball rose, the ball dropped, a new year made its debut at midnight. Villagers turned out — and decked out — for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration downtown.