I am interested in finding out cultural significances of midnight. Do you know

Question:

I am interested in finding out cultural significances of midnight. Do you know any?

I have to compose a piece of fiction that relates to midnight and need tihngs to refer to. Religious, legal, ethical, literary, etc references. Anything you know about midnight might be helpful.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: In the daily cycle of time, midnight represents the deepest point of negativity, when ghosts, demons, and all uncanny beings are most active. It is prescribed for many magic rituals and divinations. In modern times it is mathematically defined, so one is told that such-and-such will happen ??when the clock strikes twelve??; regarded thus, it derives much of its significance from its ambiguous status—does it belong to the day that has just ended or to that which is beginning? However, in earlier centuries the term was more loosely applied, to a period rather than a point of time; it is not clear how long this was considered to be, but all supernatural evil forces were supposed to vanish when the cocks first crowed.

Confusingly, midnight is also a time for certain celebratory rites, such as first footing and seeing the New Year in. This is because by modern reckoning a day begins at midnight (not at sunset, as in ancient cultures), so the day which inaugurates a new cycle must be launched with joyful and luck-bringing rituals at the earliest opportunity.
from http://www.answers.com/topic/midnight?ca...