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New Year day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has become an occasion for celebration the night of December 31. New Year's Day is the first day of the NEW YEAR. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome though other dates were also used in Rome. In all countries using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, except for Israel, it is a public holiday, citation needed often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts. January 1 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 14 on the Gregorian calendar, and it is on that date that followers of some of the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the New Year.
January 1 marks the end of a period of remembrance of a particular passing year, |
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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 previous year. Often there are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year.
Originally observed on March 15 in the old Roman Calendar, New Year's Day first came to be fixed in January 1, 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.
Among the 7th-century 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, 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 Oueen.
Most countries in Western Europe officially adopted January 1 as New Year's Day somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. The Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 9 months before December 25, was the first day of the New Year in England until the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1752. The March 25th date was called Annunciation Style; the January 1 date was called Circumcision Style, because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day counting from December 25.
In cultures which traditionally or currently use calendars other than the Gregorian, New Year's Day is often also an important celebration. Some countries concurrently use the Gregorian and another calendar. New Year's Day in the alternative calendar often attracts more elaborate celebrations than the Gregorian New Year.
Some churches celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on January 1, based on the belief that Jesus was born on December 25, and that, according to Jewish tradition, his circumcision would have taken place on the eighth day of his life which would be January 1.
- On New Year's Day, people in certain countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the New Year. Ireland, United Kingdom, United States and Australia are the most popular countries for this. They have had groups of people enter the chilly surf since 1903.
- In Britain an extra round of football fixtures is played unless New Year's Day falls on a Thursday, Friday or Sunday.
- Vienna New Year Concert, in Austria.
- In Philadelphia, the Mummers Parade is held on Broad Street.
- Hindu New Year, which falls at the time and date 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.
- Since 2008, the National Hockey League has held its annual Winter Classic, an outdoor regular season hockey game, on New Year's Day.
- In the southern United States, people traditionally prepare a meal of collard greens and black-eyed peas for a year of good luck. A dime is often placed beneath the plate as a part of the tradition.
- In Pennsylvania and Ohio, it is common to celebrate New Year's Day with a meal of pork, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. The practice comes from a Pennsylvania Dutch tradition that dictates these foods will bring good luck in the New Year.
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