'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.
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.
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 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
★ In
England and
Scotland an extra round of
football fixtures is played.
★ 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 (Aeries) in the Hindu month of Chithrai (Mid April) and observed for more than 5100 years in
Kali Yuga.
★ 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
Main articles: 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
★
New Year
★
New Year's Eve
★
Norouz
★
Enkutatash
★
Famous New Year's Babies
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