| New Year's Day |
| Observed by |
Almost all users of the Gregorian calendar and others |
| Type |
International |
| Significance |
the first day of the Gregorian year |
| Date |
January 1 |
| Observances |
Making New Year's resolutions, parades, additional sporting events |
| Related to |
New Year's Eve, the previous day |
New Year's Day is the first day of the year, in the Gregorian calendar, falling exactly one week after Christmas Day
of the previous year. In modern times, it is January 1. In most countries, it is a
holiday. It is a holy day to many of those who still use the Julian calendar, which includes followers of some of the Eastern Orthodox churches, and is celebrated on January 14
of the Gregorian calendar due to differences between the two calendars. It is usually celebrated with Fireworks, from London at 0:00 to America, at 0:00.
Modern practices
January 1 marks the end of a period of remembrance of a particular passing year, especially
on radio, television, and in newspapers, which usually starts right after Christmas Day.
Publications often have year-end articles that review the changes during the past year. Common topics include politics, natural disasters, music and
the arts, and the listing of significant individuals who died
during the past year. Often there are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year, such as the description of
new laws that often take effect on January 1.
This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s, has become an occasion for celebration the, night of December 31,
called New Year's Eve. There are often fireworks at midnight. Depending on the country, individuals may be allowed to burn fireworks,
even if it is forbidden the rest of the year.
It is also a memorable occasion to make New Year's resolutions, which they hope
to fulfill in the coming Year; the most popular ones in the western world include to stop tobacco smoking or drinking, or to lose
weight or get physically fit.[citation needed]
In all countries that use the Gregorian calendar, with the exception of
Israel, New Year's Day is a public holiday.
History
Originally observed on March 15 in the old Roman
Calendar, New Year's Day first came to be fixed at January 1 in 153 BC, when the two Roman consuls, after whom - in the Roman calendar - years
were named and numbered, began to be chosen on that date, for military reasons. However in AD 525,
Dionysius Exiguus set the start of the Julian
calendar at March 25 [citation needed] to commemorate the Annunciation of
Jesus; a variety of Christian feast dates were used throughout the Middle Ages to mark the
New Year, while calendars often continued to display the months in columns running from
January to December in the Roman fashion.
Among the 7th century druidic pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands, it was the custom to exchange gifts at the
New Year, a pagan custom deplored by Saint Eligius (died 659
or 660), who warned the Flemings and Dutchmen, "[Do not] make vetulas, [little figures of the Old
Woman], little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at
night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [another Yule custom]." The quote is
from the vita of Eligius written by his companion Ouen.
Most countries in Western Europe officially adopted January 1 as New Year's Day somewhat
before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. This is sometimes called Circumcision
Style, because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the
eighth day counting from 25 December.
- Further information: Julian calendar#New Year's Day, Lunisolar calendar.
Specific, high-profile or common celebrations
New Year's Day
- (Aeries) in the Hindu month of Chithrai (Mid April) and observed for more than 5100 years in
Kali Yuga. In England and Scotland an extra round of
football fixtures is played (unless New Year's Day falls on a Friday or Sunday).
- In Pasadena, California, United States,
the Tournament of Roses is held, with revelers viewing the parade from the streets and watching on television, followed by the Rose
Bowl football game.
- The aforementioned Rose Bowl football game is one of several postseason
bowl games played in college football in the
United States (though in recent years it, due to its involvement in the BCS, has not always fallen on New Year's Day; changes in the BCS mean that the Rose Bowl will
return as a perennial New Year's Day fixture).
- Vienna New Year Concert, in Austria.
- Polar Bear Clubs: in many northern hemisphere cities near bodies of water, they will have a tradition of people
plunging into the cold water on New Year's Day. The Coney Island Polar Bears Club in
New York is the oldest cold-water swimming club in the United States. They have had
groups of people enter the chilly surf since 1903.
- In Philadelphia, the Mummers
Parade is held on Broad Street.
- Hindu New Year, which falls at the time and date Planet Sun enters Mesha
- Hindus celebrate the new year by paying respects to their Parents and other elders and seek their blessings. They also
exchange tokens of Good Wishes (Kai Vishesham).
New Year's Eve
-
- In Brazil, the two major cities, Rio de Janeiro and
São Paulo, celebrate the New Year. Most famously in Rio de
Janeiro, the world's biggest and most famous fireworks display, which occurs in the also famous Copacabana beach, drawing 1.5-2.5 million people to the beach.
- In Australia, celebrations are held around the nation, especially in capital cities such
as Sydney, where one of the world's largest fireworks displays draws 1-1.5 million people to the
harbour. Australia was one of the first countries in the world to celebrate the new year.
- In New York City, the world famous 1,070-pound, 6-foot-diameter Waterford crystal ball located high above Times Square is
lowered starting at 11:59:00 p.m., or the last minute of the year, and reaches the bottom of its tower at the stroke of
midnight. It is sometimes referred to as "the big apple" like the city itself; the
custom derives from the time signal that used to be given at noon in harbors.
- Other Ball Drops occur in Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney Harbour
- In The Netherlands, Denmark and other European
countries, the New Year is greeted with massive private fireworks. This day is
also the occasion to make bonfires of discarded Christmas trees in some countries.
- In Russia the New Year is greeted by fireworks and drinking champagne. The New Year is
considered a family celebration, with lavish dinner tables and gifts. The president of Russia normally counts down the final
seconds of the "old year", as it is called in Russia. A giant clock tower chimes in the new year, and it is customary to make a
wish with each chime.
- In South Korea, the most popular way of celebrating New Year's Day is to travel to Jung
dong jin, the place on the peninsula where the sun can first be seen each day.
- Junkanoo parade, in Nassau, Bahamas
- Some mayors in North America hold New Year levees
- In Scotland, there are many special customs associated with the New Year. For more
information, see Hogmanay, the Scots name for
the New Year celebration.
- Japanese New Year in Japan
- The Peach Drop in Underground
Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- In Davos, Switzerland, the final match of the
Spengler Cup Ice Hockey Tournament is usually held on this day by tradition.
Sydney leads the world in one of the first major
New Year celebrations each year.
Images associated with New Year's Day
In the United States, a common image used is that of an incarnation of Father Time (or the "Old Year") wearing a sash across his chest with the previous year printed on it passing
on his duties to the Baby New Year (or the "New Year"), an infant wearing a sash with the
new year printed on it.
New Year's Babies
People born on New Year's Day are commonly called New Year Babies. Many hospitals give out prizes to the first baby
born in that hospital in the new year. These prizes are often donated by local businesses. Prizes may include various baby
related items such as baby formula, baby blankets,
gift certificates to stores which specialize in baby related merchandise, and diapers.
See also
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