Ring in the New Old Year

Subjects across the city prepared for the famous spring festival, which struck travelers as odd.
"But they leaves have fallen," they objected.
"Yes, well, the reason for that is . . . ah. There it goes again."
The bells, the criers, the streamers ejected from the palace towers all proclaimed the new year had arrived. By order of the blessed suzerain, a day of celebration was declared to honor Year 528 of the Era of Measured Anticipation.
Travelers heard all that with puzzlement. The subjects sighed. Inside the palace, officials remonstrated.
"Your subjects enjoy the increased holiday frequency, but . . ."
"Your resolve to keep your resolution to offer all thanks to the gods and never give way to pride is admirable, but . . ."
"Our neighbors are making fun of us! We're falling behind in social and technological progress!"
The blessed suzerain frowned. "That does not sound credible to us. Regardless of the calendar, the incentives toward innovative scholarship we have implemented surely—Wait. Ring the bells again."
The officials groaned, but the blessed suzerain's will was done.
Finis