What does "Burning" symbolize in "Burning the Old Year"?

Question

In *Burning the Old Year* by Naomi Shihab Nye, Nye refers to "notes", "lists", and "letters" as things that can be burned. From reading this poem, I interpret the theme to be the short time for which memories last and about how all of the papers you have will only exist for so long before they are lost and forgotten. This leads me to believe that "burning" doesn't really refer to burning in the sense of burning wood, but rather another deeper meaning. However, I do not know what that deeper meaning is. So, what does "burning" symbolize in "Burning the Old Year"?

Answer 1

I believe the "Burning the old year" to symbolize ending (demolishing) the old year in that you cannot go back in time. When I read "Where there was something and suddenly isn’t, an absence shouts, celebrates, leaves a space.  I begin again with the smallest numbers." I am reminded of times when I lost everything due to a situation. (This can be from natural disaster or divorce, etc.) When we lose everything or almost everything, we must begin again. We may have a few things left, but sometimes, we have nothing.