But if you still find yourself searching for that New Year's with an edge, there is this news item: California's Mojave Desert will play host to what organizers are hopeful will be one million people joining together for the "world's largest chanting circle," complete with the "largest guided visualization session in history".
Sad and horrifying as much of the action is, it ends up being a beautiful film with hints of hope and promise: at the end, Jal returns home to a jubilantly chanting circle of family and friends, all well and colorfully-clothed, and to a Sudan that looks more charmingly rural than war-torn.
It includes swaying dancing to rattles and guttural chant, circling of the plaza with snakes, and ceremonial sprinkling of corn meal on the principal dancers by women of the snake clan.
Boys in baggy shorts from Anita Bliss Coler's brother camp, Hayden-Marks Memorial, competed with one another in games of basketball, while other campers sat in a circle chanting "Uni-kuni-kaya" to an escalating tempo of slaps, pats and nose tugs.
Then, through the trees, we saw them: Kandokera, Luca, Emmanuel and Weri, standing in a circle, chanting and singing, while in the middle Ngobere jumped impossibly high, over and over again, his red shuka unravelling slightly at the shoulder, beaded necklaces jiggling around his neck, his sime (sword) bouncing about his waist.
The first thing you see is teenage girls, eyes shut, in a circle, chanting.
Clint Schaff and his team stood in a circle chanting "bunny bunny".
They gathered in a circle, chanting "In the name of humanity, we refuse!" and calling Trump the "American Hitler".
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She was told to sit as fellow members of the congregation - "around 20 or so people" - formed a circle, chanting Bible verses while Papa threw water at her. Afterwards, Aisha was locked in the cupboard "for most of the night" while Papa led the congregation's continued chanting.
In the square, a troop of veiled women circled, chanting for the resignation of Mr. Mubarak.
