We begin to examine our deeds of the past year, seeking forgiveness from G-d, and promising to improve our behavior in the New Year. Some of the prayers and music for the Selichot service are taken from the services for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This provides a musical transition between the "old year" and the New Year.

The custom of holding Selichot services close to midnight, is related to the belief that the Gates of Heaven open the widest at midnight. Therefore, it is believed that G-d will hear our prayers most clearly at this time of night.

It isn't because G-d has an alarm clock. Rather, the custom is related to the mystical concept of "the dark night of the soul"... when we feel most distant from G-d, most "benighted", or "in the dark", we are able to feel most passionately how small we are and how much we need contact with the greatness of G-d's glory. It is because of the intensity of these feelings that we are able to pray with great kavanah (intentionality), thus making our prayers heard.