Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute
Wednesday, December 30, 2026
The Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, observed on December 30, is a whimsical holiday created by Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe columnist Ellen Goodman in 1983. Falling between Christmas and New Year's Eve, the festival encourages people to make last-minute, dramatic positive changes in their lives, relationships, or personal habits before the year ends. Goodman was inspired by the observation that the period between Christmas and New Year carries a unique suspended energy, a liminal time when the old year has not yet ended and the new one has not begun. The name was borrowed from Grace Paley's 1974 short story collection 'Enormous Changes at the Last Minute.' The festival has become a secular tradition for those seeking to approach the new year with intentional action rather than mere resolutions, offering a gentle push to take immediate steps toward personal transformation.
History
Ellen Goodman first proposed the Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute in her syndicated Boston Globe column on December 31, 1983, noting the unique 'time between the holidays' when 'nobody knows what day it is.' She suggested that rather than waiting for January 1, people should use this odd interlude for immediate, tangible change. The name referenced Grace Paley's celebrated short story collection. The festival caught on through word of mouth and references in alternative calendars and holiday compendiums. It represents a pragmatic alternative to New Year's resolutions, emphasizing action in the present moment rather than postponement to the idealized future of January 1. Goodman retired from journalism in 2010 but reflected fondly on the festival's enduring appeal.
How It's Celebrated
The Festival of Enormous Changes at the Last Minute is celebrated by taking immediate, concrete action toward personal goals. Participants might make a difficult phone call they have been avoiding, quit a job, start a creative project, rekindle a friendship, donate to a cause, or make a bold life change before the year ends. Some families hold 'change parties' where guests share their last-minute intentions and support one another in taking action. Social media users post about their 'enormous changes' using the festival's name. The celebration emphasizes doing rather than planning, embodying the spirit of seizing the moment rather than deferring change to the new year.