As the end of the year approaches, it's natural to look for synonyms to describe this time. Some alternatives to "close of the year" might include "year-end," "end of year," "year's end," or "year's close." In a business context, "fiscal year-end" or "financial year-end" would be appropriate. If you're looking for a more festive or celebratory tone, you might consider "holiday season" or "New Year's Eve." And if you want to reflect on the passage of time, you could use phrases like "the end of another year" or "another year gone." Whatever term you choose, it's important to take time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the year to come.