New Year 's day - wikipedia New Year 's day This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 8 May 2018. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2017 ) For other uses, see New Year 's Day ( disambiguation ). For the day itself, unrelated to celebration of the New Year, see January 1. `` Happy new year '' redirects here. For other uses, see Happy New Year ( disambiguation ). New Year 's Day Fireworks in Mexico City at the stroke of midnight on New Year 's Day, 2013 Observed by Users of the Gregorian calendar Significance The first day of the Gregorian year Celebrations Making New Year 's resolutions, church services, parades, sporting events, fireworks Date January 1 Next time January 1, 2019 ( 2019 - 01 - 01 ) Frequency Annual Related to New Year 's Eve, Christmastide New Year 's Day, also called simply New Year 's or New Year, is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar. In pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar, the day was dedicated to Janus, god of gateways and beginnings, for whom January is also named. As a date in the Gregorian calendar of Christendom, New Year 's Day liturgically marked the Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus, which is still observed as such in the Anglican Church and Lutheran Church. In present day, with most countries now using the Gregorian calendar as their de facto calendar, New Year 's Day is probably the most celebrated public holiday, often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone. Other global New Year 's Day traditions include making New Year 's resolutions and calling one 's friends and family. Fireworks in London on New Year 's Day at the stroke of midnight. Contents 1 History 2 New Year 's Days in other calendars 2.1 African 2.2 East Asian 2.3 Southeast Asian 2.4 South Asian 2.5 European 2.6 Middle Eastern 3 Traditional and modern celebrations and customs 3.1 New Year 's Eve 3.2 Regional celebrations 3.3 National celebrations 3.4 New Year 's Day 3.5 Music 3.6 New Year 's babies 4 Other celebrations on January 1 5 See also 6 References 6.1 Citations 6.2 Bibliography 7 External links History In Christendom, under which the Gregorian Calendar developed, New Year 's Day traditionally marks the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, which is still observed as such by the Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church. Mesopotamia ( Iraq ) instituted the concept of celebrating the new year in 2000 BC and celebrated new year around the time of the vernal equinox, in mid-March. The early Roman calendar designated March 1 as the new year. The calendar had just ten months, beginning with March. That the new year once began with the month of March is still reflected in some of the names of the months. September through December, our ninth through twelfth months, were originally positioned as the seventh through tenth months. ( Septem is Latin for `` seven '' ; octo, `` eight '' ; novem, `` nine '' ; and decem, `` ten ''. ) Roman legend usually credited their second king Numa with the establishment of the months of January and February. These were first placed at the end of the year, but at some point came to be considered the first two months instead. The January Kalends ( Latin : Kalendae Ianuariae ) came to be celebrated as the new year at some point after it became the day for the inaugurating new consuls in 153 BC. Romans had long dated their years by these consulships, rather than sequentially, and making the kalends of January start the new year aligned this dating. Still, private and religious celebrations around the March new year continued for some time and there is no consensus on the question of the timing for January 1 's new status. Once it became the new year, however, it became a time for family gatherings and celebrations. A series of disasters, notably including the failed rebellion of M. Aemilius Lepidus in 78 BC, established a superstition against allowing Rome 's market days to fall on the kalends of January and the pontiffs employed intercalation to avoid its occurrence. In AD 567, the Council of Tours formally abolished January 1 as the beginning of the year. At various times and in various places throughout medieval Christian Europe, the new year was celebrated on December 25 in honor of the birth of Jesus ; March 1 in the old Roman style ; March 25 in honor of Lady Day and the Feast of the Annunciation ; and on the movable feast of Easter. These days were also astronomically and astrologically significant since, at the time of the Julian reform, March 25 had been understood as the spring equinox and December 25 as the winter solstice. ( The Julian calendar 's small disagreement with the solar year, however, shifted these days earlier before the Council of Nicaea which formed the basis of the calculations used during the Gregorian reform of the calendar. ) Medieval calendars nonetheless often continued to display the months running from January to December, despite their readers reckoning the transition from one year to the next on a different day. Among the 7th century pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands, it was the custom to exchange gifts on the first day of the new year. This custom was deplored by Saint Eligius ( died 659 or 660 ), who warned the Flemish and Dutch : `` ( 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 ). '' However, on the date that European Christians celebrated the New Year, they exchanged Christmas presents because New Year 's Day fell within the twelve days of the Christmas season in the Western Christian liturgical calendar ; the custom of exchanging Christmas gifts in a Christian context is traced back to the Biblical Magi who gave gifts to the Child Jesus. Because of the leap year error in the Julian calendar, the date of Easter had drifted backward since the First Council of Nicaea decided the computation of the date of Easter in 325. By the sixteenth century, the drift from the observed equinox had become unacceptable. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII declared the Gregorian calendar widely used today, correcting the error by a deletion of 10 days. The Gregorian calendar reform also ( in effect ) restored January 1 as New Year 's Day. Although most Catholic countries adopted the Gregorian calendar almost immediately, it was only gradually adopted among Protestant countries. The British, for example, did not adopt the reformed calendar until 1752. Until then, the British Empire -- and its American colonies -- still celebrated the new year on 25 March. Most nations of Western Europe officially adopted 1 January as New Year 's Day somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian Calendar. In Tudor England, New Year 's Day, along with Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, was celebrated as one of three main festivities among the twelve days of Christmastide. There, until the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar in 1752, the first day of the new year was the Western Christian Feast of the Annunciation, on 25 March, also called `` Lady Day ''. Dates predicated on the year beginning on 25 March became known as Annunciation Style dates, while dates of the Gregorian Calendar commencing on 1 January were distinguished as Circumcision Style dates, because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, the observed memorial of the eighth day of Jesus Christ 's life after his birth, counted from the latter 's observation on Christmas, 25 December. Pope Gregory acknowledged 1 January as the beginning of the new year according to his reform of the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. New Year 's days in other calendars 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 attracts alternative celebrations of that new year : African Sep 11 37 Tue Nayrouz and Enkutatash are the New Year 's Days of the Coptic Egyptians and the Ethiopians, respectively. Between AD 1900 and 2100, both occur on September 11 in most years and on September 12 in the years before Gregorian leap years. They preserve the legacy of the ancient Egyptian new year Wepet Renpet, which originally marked the onset of the Nile flood but which wandered through the seasons until the introduction of leap years to the traditional calendar by Augustus in the 20s BC. In Ethiopia, the new year is held to mark the end of the summer rainy season. Jun 10 23 Sun The Odunde Festival is also called the African New Year is celebrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States on the second Sunday of June. While the name was based on the Yoruba African culture, its celebration marks the largest African celebration in the world, which more or less was started by a local tradition. East Asian Jan 28 04 Sat Chinese New Year is celebrated in many countries around the world. It is the first day of the lunar calendar and is corrected for the solar every three years. The holiday normally falls between January 20 and February 20. The holiday is celebrated with food, families, lucky money ( usually in a red envelope ), and many other red things for good luck. Lion and dragon dances, drums, fireworks, firecrackers, and other types of entertainment fill the streets on this day. Vietnamese New Year ( Tết Nguyên Đán or Tết ), more commonly known by its shortened name Tết or `` Vietnamese Lunar New Year '', is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam, the holiday normally falls between 20 January and 20 February. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Chinese calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The name Tết Nguyên Đán is Sino - Vietnamese for Feast of the First Morning, derived from the Hán nôm characters 節 元 旦. Jan 01 Mon Japanese New Year is celebrated on January 1 because the Gregorian calendar is now used instead of the Chinese calendar. Korean New Year, called Seollal ( 설날 ), is the first day of the lunar calendar. Koreans also celebrate solar New Year 's Day on January 1 each year, following the Gregorian Calendar. New Year 's Day is a national holiday, so people get the day off while they have a minimum of three days off on Lunar New Year. Koreans celebrate New Year 's Day by preparing food for their ancestors ' spirits, visiting ancestors ' graves, and playing Korean games such as Yunnori ( 윷놀이 ) with families. Young children give respect to their parents, grandparents, relatives, and other elders by bowing down in a traditional way and are given good wishes and some money by the elders. Families enjoy the New Year also by counting down until 12 : 00 am on New Year 's Eve. Southeast Asian Apr 13 15 Fri Cambodian New Year ( Chaul Chnam Thmey ) is celebrated on April 13 or April 14. There are three days for the Khmer New Year : the first day is called `` Moha Songkran '', the second is called `` Virak Wanabat '' and the final day is called `` Virak Loeurng Sak ''. During these periods, Cambodians often go to pagoda or play traditional games. Phnom Penh is usually quiet during Khmer New Year as most of the Cambodians prefer spending it at their respective hometowns. Thai New Year is celebrated on April 13 or April 14 and is called Songkran in the local language. People usually come out to splash water on one another. The throwing of water originated as a blessing. By capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing, this `` blessed '' water is gently poured on the shoulder of elders and family for good fortune. South Asian Apr 14 15 Sat Christians in India celebrate January 1 as the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar. Catholic Christians also celebrate January 1 as The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Diwali related New Year 's celebrations include Marwari New Year and Gujrati New Year. Indian New Year 's days has several variations depending on the region and is based on the Hindu calendar. Hindu In Hinduism, different regional cultures celebrate new year at different times of the year. In Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Nepal, Odisha, Punjab, Telangana, Andrapradesh and Tamil Nadu households celebrate the new year when the Sun enters Aries on the Hindu calendar. This is normally on April 14 or April 15, depending on the leap year. Elsewhere in northern / central India, the Vikram Samvat calendar is followed. According to that the new year day is the first day of the Chaitra Month, also known as Chaitra Shukla Pratipada or Gudi Padwa. This basically is the first month of the Hindu calendar, the first shukla paksha ( fortnight ) and the first day. This normally comes around March 23 -- 24, mostly around the Spring Equinox in Gregorian Calendar. The new year is celebrated by paying respect to elders in the family and by seeking their blessings. They also exchange tokens of good wishes for a healthy and prosperous year ahead. Malayalam New Year ( Puthuvarsham ) is celebrated either on the first day of the month of Medam in mid-April which is known as Vishu or the first day of the month of Chingam, in the Malayalam Calendar in mid-August according to another reckoning. Unlike most other calendar systems in India, the New Year 's Day on the Malayalam Calendar is not based on any astronomical event. It is just the first day of the first of the twelve months on the Malayalam Calendar. The Malayalam Calendar ( called Kollavarsham ) originated in 825 CE, based on general agreement among scholars, with the re-opening of the city of Kollam ( on Malabar Coast ), which had been destroyed by a natural disaster. Nepal Sambat is the Nepalese New Year celebration, which also coincides with the Diwali festival. The Sikh New Year is celebrated as per the Nanakshahi calendar. The epoch of this calendar is the birth of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak in 1469. New Year 's Day falls annually on what is March 14 in the Gregorian Western calendar. Sinhalese New Year is celebrated in Sri Lankan culture predominantly by the Sri Lankan Sinhalese, while the Tamil New Year on the same day is celebrated by Sri Lankan Tamils. The Sinhalese New Year ( aluth avurudda ), marks the end of harvest season, by the month of Bak ( April ) between April 13 and April 14. There is an astrologically generated time gap between the passing year and the New Year, which is based on the passing of the sun from the Meena Rashiya ( House of Pisces ) to the Mesha Rashiya ( House of Aries ) in the celestial sphere. The astrological time difference between the New Year and the passing year ( nonagathe ) is celebrated with several Buddhist rituals and customs that are to be concentrated on, which are exclusive of all types of ' work '. After Buddhist rituals and traditions are attended to, Sinhala and Tamil New Year - based social gatherings and festive parties with the aid of firecrackers, and fireworks would be organized. The exchange of gifts, cleanliness, the lighting of the oil lamp, making kiribath ( Milk rice ), and even the Asian Koel are significant aspects of the Sinhalese New Year. Tamil New Year ( Puthandu ) is celebrated on April 13 or April 14. Traditionally, it is celebrated as Chiththirai Thirunaal in parts of Tamil Nadu to mark the event of the Sun entering Aries. Panchangam ( almanac ), is read in temples to mark the start of the Year. Telugu New Year ( Ugadi ), Kannada New Year ( Yugadi ) is celebrated in March ( generally ), April ( occasionally ). Traditionally, it is celebrated as Chaitram Chaitra Shuddha Padyami in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka to mark the event of New Year 's Day for the people of the Deccan region of India. It falls on a different day every year because the Hindu calendar is a lunisolar calendar. The Saka calendar begins with the month of Chaitra ( March -- April ) and Ugadi / Yugadi marks the first day of the new year. Chaitra is the first month in Panchanga which is the Indian calendar. Panchangam ( almanac ), is read in temples to mark the start of the Year. European Jan 13 02 Sat The Old New Year in Serbia is commonly called the Serbian New Year ( Српска Нова година / Srpska Nova godina ), celebrated on January 14 as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar. The Serbian Orthodox Church, with traditional adherence in Serbia ( including Kosovo ), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia, celebrates its feasts and holidays according to the Julian calendar. A part of the population celebrates Serbian New Year in a similar way as the New Year on January 1. This time, usually one concert is organized in front of either City Hall or the National Parliament ( in Belgrade ), while fireworks are prepared by the Serbian Orthodox Church and fired from the Church of Saint Sava, where people also gather. Other cities also organize such celebrations. Restaurants, clubs, cafes and hotels are usually fully booked and organize New Year 's celebrations with food and live music. In the Gwaun Valley, Pembrokeshire, Wales the new year is celebrated on January 13, based on the Julian calendar. See New Year celebrations in Gwaun Valley. Middle eastern Muharram Mon ( for native Arabs ) Hijri New Year in the Islamic culture is also known as Islamic new year ( Arabic : رأس السنة الهجرية Ras as - Sanah al - Hijriyah ) is the day that marks the beginning of a new Islamic calendar year. New Year moves from year to year because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar. The first day of the year is observed on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Mar 21 ± 1 Wed equinox Nowruz also known as Persian New Year marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous / following day depending on where it is observed. Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years by the related cultural continent. The holiday is also celebrated and observed by many parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, Crimea and some groups in the Balkans. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians, the same time is celebrated in the Indian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals. Tishrei 1⁄2 Mon Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, is celebrated by Jews in Israel and throughout the world. The date is not set according to the Gregorian calendar, but it always falls during September or October. The holiday is celebrated by religious services and special meals. The night of December 31 / January 1, the New Year according to the Gregorian calendar, is also celebrated widely in Israel and is referred to as Sylvester or the civil new year. Traditional and modern celebrations and customs New Year 's Eve Main article : New Year 's Eve Sydney contributes to some of the major New Year celebrations each year. January 1 represents the fresh start of a new year after a period of remembrance of the passing year, including on radio, television, and in newspapers, which starts in early December in countries around the world. Publications have year - end articles that review the changes during the previous year. In some cases publications may set their entire year work alight in hope that the smoke emitted from the flame brings new life to the company. There are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year. This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has also become an occasion to celebrate the night of December 31, called New Year 's Eve. There are fireworks at midnight at the moment the new year arrives ( a major one is in Sydney, Australia ). Watchnight services are also still observed by many. Regional celebrations In European countries, the New Year is greeted with private fireworks. On New Year 's Day, people in certain countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the new year. In Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands this is very popular. These events are sometimes known as polar bear plunges, and are sometimes organized by groups to raise money for charity. Polar Bear Clubs in many Northern Hemisphere cities near bodies of water, have a tradition of holding organized plunges on New Year 's Day. National celebrations Happy Christmas and New Year card Throughout Great Britain there are many celebrations across the island, particularly in Scotland. In London, thousands gather along the Embankment on the River Thames to watch the fireworks around the London Eye. The New Year officially starts when Big Ben strikes twelve. In Scotland, there are many unique customs associated with the New Year. These form the Scottish celebration Hogmanay -- the Scots name for New Year 's Eve. The street party in Princes Street in Edinburgh is one famous example. In Wales, Calennig is celebrated, with celebrations attracting thousands of people to the capital, Cardiff. In Greece and Cyprus, families and relatives switch off the lights at midnight, then celebrate by cutting the vassilopita ( Basil 's pie ) which usually contains one coin or equivalent. Whoever wins expects luck for the whole year. After the pie, a traditional game of cards called triantaena ( 31 ) follows. In Nassau, Bahamas, the Junkanoo parade takes place. In the Philippines, New Year 's is considered part of the Christmas holiday. Noise is made on New Year 's Eve with firecrackers and horns ( amongst other methods ) to dispel evil spirits and to prevent them from bringing bad luck to the coming new year. Tables are laden with food for the Media Noche ( midnight meal ), and a basket of twelve, different round fruits is displayed to symbolise prosperity in each of the coming twelve months. Public New Year 's parties are organised by city governments, and are very well - attended. In Russia and the other 14 former republics of the Soviet Union, the celebration of Novi God is greeted by fireworks and drinking champagne. Because religion was suppressed in the Soviet Union the New Year holiday took on many attributes associated with Christmas in other countries, including Christmas trees, Ded Moroz ( a variant of Santa Claus ) and family celebrations with lavish food and gifts. In Moscow, the president of Russia counts down the final seconds of the `` old year ''. The Kremlin 's landmark Spassky Clock Tower chimes in the new year and then the anthem starts. It is customary to make a wish while the Clock chimes. The Old New Year is celebrated on January 13 ( equivalent to January 1 in the `` old style '' Julian calendar ). Although not an official holiday, it marks the end of the holiday season and is usually when people take down trees and other decorations. In Davos, Switzerland, the final match of the Spengler Cup ice hockey Tournament is usually held on this day by tradition. In the United States, it is traditional to spend this occasion together with loved ones. A toast is made to the new year, with kisses, fireworks and parties among the customs. It is popular to make a New Year 's resolution, although that is optional. In the country 's most famous New Year celebration in New York City, the 11,875 - pound ( 5,386 - kg ), 12 - foot - diameter ( 3.7 - m ) Times Square Ball located high above One Times Square is lowered starting at 11 : 59 pm, with a countdown from sixty seconds until one second, when it reaches the bottom of its tower. The arrival of the new year is announced at the stroke of midnight with fireworks, music and a live celebration that is broadcast worldwide. ( Hundreds of local imitations of the ball drop also occur throughout the United States. ) In France, some regard the weather as the prediction of that year : wind blowing east, fruit will yield ; wind blowing west, fish and livestock will be bumper ; wind blowing south, there will be good weather all year round and wind blowing north, there will be crop failure. People would like to toast for the new year. In Spain, it is customary to have 12 grapes at hand when the clock strikes 12 at midnight. One grape is eaten on each stroke. If all the grapes are eaten within the period of the strikes, it means good luck in the new year. New Year 's day The Annual Stoats Loony Dook held in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 1st January. The celebrations and activities held worldwide on January 1 as part of New Year 's Day commonly include the following : Parades American football : In the United States, January 1 is the traditional date for many post-season college football bowl games, which are usually accompanied by parades and other activities to celebrate the events Beginning in the 2010s, it is also the day that First Day Hikes take place in the fifty state park systems of the United States. Football : In England, a full - fixture programme is usually played throughout the Premier League Ice hockey, most famously the Winter Classic in the United States, a National Hockey League game that is played outdoors Concerts Entertainment - usually enjoyed from the comfort of home Family time Local walks Traditional meals Church services An annual dip in ice - cold water by hearty individuals, most famously by members of the Polar Bear Club in the Southern United States traditional New Year 's Day menu includes ham, blackeyed peas or Hoppin ' John, cabbage, sweet potatoes, and cornbread. There is horse racing at Cheltenham. Music Music associated with New Year 's Day comes in both classical and popular genres, and there is also Christmas song focus on the arrival of a new year during the Christmas and holiday season. Johann Sebastian Bach, in the Orgelbüchlein, composed three chorale preludes for the new year : Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen ( `` Help me to praise God 's goodness '' ) ( BWV 613 ) ; Das alte Jahr vergangen ist ( `` The old year has passed '' ) ( BWV 614 ) ; and In dir ist freude ( `` In you is joy '' ) ( BWV 615 ). The year is gone, beyond recall is a traditional Christian hymn to give thanks for the new year, dating back to 1713. Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns. The annual Vienna New Year 's Concert, primarily featuring music composed by the Strauss family, is broadcast around the world. New Year 's babies A common image used, often as an editorial cartoon, 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. Babies born on New Year 's Day are commonly called New Year babies. Hospitals, such as the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center in the US, 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, diapers, and gift certificates to stores which specialize in baby - related merchandise. Other celebrations on January 1 The Anglican Church and the Lutheran Church celebrate the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ on January 1, based on the belief that if Jesus was born on December 25, then according to Hebrew tradition, his circumcision would have taken place on the eighth day of his life ( January 1 ). The Roman Catholic Church celebrates on this day the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, which is also a Holy Day of Obligation. In the United States, New Year 's Day is a postal holiday. Johann Sebastian Bach composed several church cantatas for the double occasion : Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 190, 1 January 1724 Jesu, nun sei gepreiset, BWV 41, 1 January 1725 Herr Gott, dich loben wir, BWV 16, 1 January 1726 Gott, wie dein Name, so ist auch dein Ruhm, BWV 171, 1 January ? 1729 Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben 1 January 1735 ( Christmas Oratorio Part IV ) See also Famous New Year 's Babies First Night List of winter festivals Saint Sylvester 's Day References Citations ^ Jump up to : Mehra, Komal ( 2006 ). Festivals Of The World. Sterling Publishers. p. 69. ISBN 9781845575748. In many European countries like Italy, Portugal and Netherlands, families start the new year by attending church services and then calling on friends and relatives. Italian children receive gifts or money on New Year 's Day. People in the United States go to church, give parties and enjoy other forms of entertainment. Jump up ^ McKim, Donald K. ( 1996 ). Dictionary of Theological Terms. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 51. ISBN 0664255116. Jump up ^ Hobart, John Henry ( 1840 ). A Companion for the festivals and fasts of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Stanford & Co. p. 284. Jump up ^ Brunner, Borgna. `` A History of the New Year ''. Infoplease.com. Retrieved 31 January 2014. Jump up ^ Andrews, Evan ( 31 December 2012 ). `` 5 Ancient New Year 's Celebrations ''. History News. Retrieved 31 January 2014. Jump up ^ Michels, A.K. The Calendar of the Roman Republic ( Princeton, 1967 ), p. 97 - 8. Jump up ^ Macrobius, Book I, Ch. xiii, § 17. Jump up ^ Kaster ( 2011 ), p. 163. Jump up ^ Quoting the Vita of St. Eligius written by Ouen. Jump up ^ Forbes, Bruce David ( 1 October 2008 ). Christmas : A Candid History. University of California Press. p. 114. ISBN 9780520258020. Some people referred to New Year 's gifts as `` Christmas presents '' because New Year 's Day fell within the twelve days of Christmas, but in spite of the name they still were gifts given on January 1. Jump up ^ Collins, Ace ( 4 May 2010 ). Stories Behind the Great Traditions of Christmas. Harper Collins. p. 88. ISBN 9780310873884. Most people today trace the practice of giving gifts on Christmas Day to the three gifts that the Magi gave to Jesus. Jump up ^ Berking, Helmuth ( 30 March 1999 ). Sociology of Giving. SAGE Publications. p. 14. ISBN 9780857026132. The winter solstice was a time of festivity in every traditional culture, and the Christian Christmas probably took its place within this mythical context of the solar cult. Its core dogma of the Incarnation, however, solidly established the giving and receiving of gifts as the structural principle of that recurrent yet unique event. ' Children were given presents as the Jesus child received gifts from the magi or kings who came from afar to adore him. But in reality it was they, together with all their fellow men, who received the gift of God through man 's renewed participation in the divine life ' ( ibid. : 61 ). Jump up ^ Sim, Alison ( 8 November 2011 ). Pleasures and Pastimes in Tudor England. The History Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780752475783. Most of the twelve days of Christmas were saint 's days, but the main three days for celebration were Christmas Day, New Year 's Day and Epiphany, or Twelfth Night. Jump up ^ Harris, Max ( 2011 - 03 - 17 ). Sacred Folly : A New History of the Feast of Fools. Cornell University Press. p. 35. ISBN 9780801449567. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ Trawicky, Bernard ( 2000 - 07 - 01 ). Anniversaries and Holidays ( 5th ed. ). American Library Association. p. 222. ISBN 9780838906958. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) The Ethiopic Calendar by Dr. Aberra Molla Jump up ^ Gregg, Cherri ( May 13, 2013 ). `` Oshunbumi Fernandez, Caring Through Culture and Odunde 365 ''. CBS Philadelphia. Retrieved 31 December 2013. Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2005 - 11 - 25. Retrieved 2005 - 11 - 30. Nanakshahi Calendar at SGPC.net ^ Jump up to : `` What is ' Serbian New Year ' ? ''. Balkan Insight. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017. Jump up ^ Mintz, Josh ( 2 January 2012 ). `` The Hypocrisy of Turning New Year 's Eve in Israel Into a Nonevent ''. Haaretz. Retrieved 1 January 2016. Jump up ^ `` Watch Night services provide spiritual way to bring in New Year ''. The United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011. The service is loosely constructed with singing, spontaneous prayers and testimonials, and readings, including the Covenant Renewal service from The United Methodist Book of Worship ( pp. 288 -- 294 ). Jump up ^ Kochilas, Diane. The Glorious Foods of Greece. HarperCollins. p. 828. ISBN 9780061859588. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ World Book ( 1998 - 09 - 01 ). Christmas in the Philippines. World Book, Inc. p. 61. ISBN 9780716608530. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ Yue Feng, ed. ( 1991 ). 世界 节 ( World Festival ). Amazon.com ( in Chinese ). ISBN 978 - 7211058990. Jump up ^ Medina, F. Xavier ( 2005 ). Food Culture In Spain. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 46. ISBN 9780313328190. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` History of America 's State Parks First Day Hikes ''. California Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved January 4, 2018. Jump up ^ `` Lucky Foods for the New Year - New Year 's Day - Epicurious.com ''. Jump up ^ `` Table of Contents : Orgelbüchlein : ''. libweb.grinnell.edu. Jump up ^ `` The Year Is Gone, Beyond Recall ''. www.hymntime.com. Jump up ^ `` Scotland - In the words of the Bard - ''. Scotland. Jump up ^ Birx, H. James ( 2009 - 01 - 13 ). Encyclopedia of Time : Science, Philosophy, Theology, & Culture. Sage Publications. p. 510. ISBN 9781412941648. Retrieved 31 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` DRMC rounds up prizes for New Year 's baby, Life Choices ''. Dyersburg State Gazette. Stategazette.com. 2008 - 12 - 31. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 01. Jump up ^ `` 2011 - federal - holidays ''. Bibliography Macrobius, Saturnaliorum Libri VII. ( in Latin ) Macrobius ( 2011 ), Kaster, Robert A., ed., Saturnalia, Vol. I, Loeb Classical Library, No. 510, Cambridge : Harvard University Press, ISBN 9780674996496. ( in English ) & ( in Latin ) External links Wikinews has related news : World celebrates new year for gregorian calendar Media related to New year celebrations at Wikimedia Commons New Year 's Around the World -- slideshow by Life magazine `` New Year 's Day ''. New International Encyclopedia. 1905. New Year 's Eve and New Year 's Day Events America 's Party First Night Hogmanay New Year 's Eve in London Objects dropped on New Year 's Eve Peach Drop Pelican Drop Réveillon de Copacabana Sydney New Year 's Eve The Possum Drop Times Square Ball Vienna New Year 's Concert Sports College Football Playoff bowls Rose Orange Sugar Fiesta Cotton Peach Citrus Bowl Gator Bowl Outback Bowl Tour de Ski Four Hills Tournament NHL Winter Classic Spengler Cup Final IIHF World U20 Championship Saint Silvester Road Race New Year Sprint Nos Galan road race Parades Tournament of Roses Parade London 's New Year 's Day Parade Florida Citrus Parade Mummers Parade Television New Year 's Rockin ' Eve Fox 's New Year 's Eve with Steve Harvey New Year 's Eve with Carson Daly New Year Live CNN New Year 's Eve Live ¡ Feliz ! MTV New Year 's The Big Fat Quiz of the Year Bye Bye Dinner for One Happy New Year, America Hogmanay Live Hootenanny Kōhaku Uta Gassen Little Blue Light Only an Excuse ? Red Bull New Year No Limits Rudolph 's Shiny New Year Scotch and Wry Silvesterstadl `` Silvesterpunsch `` 2000 Today ( US, Ireland ) Happy New Year, Charlie Brown ! First Night 2013 with Jamie Kennedy Music `` Auld Lang Syne '' `` Happy New Year '' `` What Are You Doing New Year 's Eve ? '' `` Levy - Dew '' `` New Year 's Day '' Related topics New Year films Gregorian calendar Baby New Year Calennig Hogmanay Holiday season Leap second Guy Lombardo New Year 's resolution New Year tree Saint Sylvester 's Day Vasilopita Watchnight service Links to related articles Holidays, observances, and celebrations in Algeria January New Year 's Day ( 1 ) Yennayer ( 12 ) February Valentine 's Day ( 14 ) Tafsut ( 28 ) March International Women 's Day ( 8 ) Victory Day ( 19 ) World Water Day ( 22 ) Maghrebi Blood Donation Day ( 30 ) Spring vacation ( 2 last weeks ) April April Fools ' Day ( 1 ) Knowledge Day ( 16 ) Berber Spring ( 20 ) Earth Day ( 22 ) Election Day ( Thursday ) May International Workers ' Day ( 1 ) World Press Freedom Day ( 3 ) Mother 's Day ( last Sunday ) June -- July -- August Summer vacation ( varies ) June Children 's Day ( 1 ) Father 's Day ( 21 ) July Independence Day ( 5 ) September International Day of Peace ( 21 ) October International Day of Non-Violence ( 2 ) Halloween ( 31 ) November Revolution Day ( 1 ) December Christmas Eve ( 24 ) Christmas ( 25 ) New Year 's Eve ( 31 ) Winter vacation ( 2 last weeks ) Varies ( year round ) Hijri New Year 's Day ( Muharram 1 ) Ashura ( Muharram 10 ) Mawlid ( Rabi ' al - Awwal 12 ) Ramadan ( Ramadan 1 ) Laylat al - Qadr ( Ramadan 27 ) Eid al - Fitr ( Shawwal 1 ) Day of Arafah ( Dhu al - Hijjah 9 ) Eid al - Adha ( Dhu al - Hijjah 10 ) Holi ( varies ) Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in Algeria, which often represent the major celebrations of the month. See also : Lists of holidays. Public holidays in Australia New Year 's Day Australia Day Good Friday Easter Saturday Easter Monday Anzac Day Queen 's Birthday Labour Day Christmas Day Boxing Day Holidays in Canada Nationwide statutory holidays New Year 's Day Good Friday Canada Day Labour Day Christmas Day Statutory holidays for federal employees Easter Monday Victoria Day Thanksgiving Remembrance Day Boxing Day Indigenous holidays Hobiyee National Aboriginal Day Other common holidays August Civic Holiday Family Day / Heritage Day / Islander Day / Louis Riel Day Memorial Day ( Newfoundland and Labrador ) Quebec National Holiday Public holidays in China Golden weeks Spring Festival National Day Other holidays New Year 's Day Lantern Festival Qingming Festival Workers ' Day Duanwu Festival Mid-Autumn Festival Public holidays in Hong Kong New Year 's Day Lunar New Year ( first 3 days of the period ) Ching Ming Festival Good Friday Holy Saturday Easter Monday Buddha 's Birthday Labour Day Tuen Ng Festival Hong Kong SAR Establishment Day Mid-Autumn Festival PRC National Day Chung Yeung Festival Christmas Day Boxing Day Cancelled Queen 's Birthday Liberation Day Double Ten Day Remembrance Day Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland New Year 's Day Saint Patrick 's Day Easter Monday May Day June Holiday August Holiday October Holiday Christmas Day Saint Stephen 's Day Public holidays in Mexico Statutory holidays Año Nuevo Día de la Constitución Natalicio de Benito Juárez Día del Trabajo Día de Independencia Día de la Revolución Transmisión del Poder Ejecutivo Federal Navidad Civic holidays Día del Ejército Día de la Bandera Aniversario de la Expropiación petrolera Heroica Defensa de Veracruz Cinco de Mayo Natalicio de Miguel Hidalgo Día de la Marina Grito de Dolores Día de los Niños Héroes Consumación de la Independencia Natalicio de José Ma. Morelos y Pavón Descubrimiento de América Festivities Día de los Santos Reyes Día de San Valentín Día del Niño Día de las Madres Día del Maestro Día del estudiante Día del Padre Día de Todos los Santos Día de los Fieles Difuntos Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe Las Posadas Nochebuena Dia de los Santos Inocentes Public holidays in New Zealand New Year 's Day January 2 Waitangi Day Good Friday Easter Sunday Easter Monday Anzac Day Queen 's Birthday Labour Day Christmas Day Boxing Day Public holidays in North Korea New Year 's Day Day of the Sun Day of the Shining Star Day of Songun Day of Victory in the Great Fatherland Liberation War Day of the Foundation of the Republic Party Foundation Day International Workers ' Day Fatherland Liberation Day Constitution Day Public holidays in the Philippines Regular holidays New Year 's Day Maundy Thursday Good Friday Araw ng Kagitingan Labor Day Independence Day National Heroes ' Day Bonifacio Day Christmas Rizal Day Special non-working days Chinese New Year Black Saturday Ninoy Aquino Day All Saints ' Day and All Souls ' Day Immaculate Conception Noche Buena Last day of the year Special holiday ( for schools ) EDSA Revolution Anniversary Italicized : Movable holiday Public holidays in Russia New Year 's Day ( 1 Jan ) Christmas ( 7 Jan ) Defender of the Fatherland Day ( 23 Feb ) International Women 's Day ( 8 Mar ) International Workers ' Day ( 1 May ) Victory Day ( 9 May ) Russia Day ( 12 Jun ) Unity Day ( 4 Nov ) Public holidays in South Africa New Year 's Day Human Rights Day Good Friday Family Day Freedom Day Workers ' Day Youth Day National Women 's Day Heritage Day Day of Reconciliation Christmas Day Day of Goodwill Public holidays in Turkey New Year 's Day National Sovereignty and Children 's Day Labour and Solidarity Day Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day Democracy and National Unity Day Victory Day Republic Day Ramadan Feast Sacrifice Feast Public holidays in Ukraine New Year 's Day ( 1 Jan ) ( Julian ) Christmas ( 7 Jan ) International Women 's Day ( 8 Mar ) Orthodox Easter ( moveable ) Orthodox Pentecost ( moveable ) Labour Day ( 1 May ) Victory Day over Nazism ( 9 May ) Constitution Day ( 28 June ) Independence Day ( 24 Aug ) Defender of Ukraine Day ( 14 Oct ) ( Gregorian and Revised Julian ) Christmas ( 25 Dec ) Public holidays in the United Kingdom All regions New Year 's Day May Bank Holiday Summer Bank Holiday Christmas Day Boxing Day England and Wales Good Friday Easter Monday Spring Bank Holiday Northern Ireland Saint Patrick 's Day Easter Monday Easter Tuesday Spring Bank Holiday Battle of the Boyne ( Orangemen 's Day ) Scotland 2nd January Good Friday St Andrew 's Day ( optional ) Holidays, observances, and celebrations in the United States January New Year 's Day ( federal ) Martin Luther King Jr. Day ( federal ) Confederate Heroes Day ( TX ) Fred Korematsu Day ( CA, FL, HI, VA ) Idaho Human Rights Day ( ID ) Inauguration Day ( federal quadrennial, DC area ) Kansas Day ( KS ) Lee -- Jackson Day ( formerly Lee -- Jackson -- King Day ) ( VA ) Robert E. Lee Day ( FL ) Stephen Foster Memorial Day ( 36 ) The Eighth ( LA, former federal ) January -- February Super Bowl Sunday February American Heart Month Black History Month Washington 's Birthday / Presidents ' Day ( federal ) Valentine 's Day Georgia Day ( GA ) Groundhog Day Lincoln 's Birthday ( CA, CT, IL, IN, MO, NJ, NY, WV ) National Girls and Women in Sports Day National Freedom Day ( 36 ) Primary Election Day ( WI ) Ronald Reagan Day ( CA ) Rosa Parks Day ( CA, MO ) Susan B. Anthony Day ( CA, FL, NY, WI, WV, proposed federal ) February -- March Mardi Gras Ash Wednesday ( religious ) Courir de Mardi Gras ( religious ) Super Tuesday March Irish - American Heritage Month National Colon Cancer Awareness Month Women 's History Month St. Patrick 's Day ( religious ) Spring break ( week ) Casimir Pulaski Day ( IL ) Cesar Chavez Day ( CA, CO, TX, proposed federal ) Evacuation Day ( Suffolk County, MA ) Harriet Tubman Day ( NY ) Holi ( NY, religious ) Mardi Gras ( AL ( in two counties ), LA ) Maryland Day ( MD ) National Poison Prevention Week ( week ) Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Day ( HI ) Saint Joseph 's Day ( religious ) Seward 's Day ( AK ) Texas Independence Day ( TX ) Town Meeting Day ( VT ) March -- April Easter ( religious ) Palm Sunday ( religious ) Passover ( religious ) Good Friday ( CT, NC, PR, religious ) Easter Monday ( religious ) April Confederate History Month 420 Day April Fools ' Day Arbor Day Confederate Memorial Day ( AL, MS ) Days of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust ( week ) Earth Day Emancipation Day ( DC ) Thomas Jefferson 's Birthday ( AL ) Pascua Florida ( FL ) Patriots ' Day ( MA, ME ) San Jacinto Day ( TX ) Siblings Day Walpurgis Night ( religious ) May Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Jewish American Heritage Month Memorial Day ( federal ) Mother 's Day ( 36 ) Cinco de Mayo Harvey Milk Day ( CA ) Law Day ( 36 ) Loyalty Day ( 36 ) Malcolm X Day ( CA, IL, proposed federal ) May Day Military Spouse Day National Day of Prayer ( 36 ) National Defense Transportation Day ( 36 ) National Maritime Day ( 36 ) Peace Officers Memorial Day ( 36 ) Truman Day ( MO ) June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month Father 's Day ( 36 ) Bunker Hill Day ( Suffolk County, MA ) Carolina Day ( SC ) Emancipation Day In Texas / Juneteenth ( TX ) Flag Day ( 36, proposed federal ) Helen Keller Day ( PA ) Honor America Days ( 3 weeks ) Jefferson Davis Day ( AL, FL ) Kamehameha Day ( HI ) Odunde Festival ( Philadelphia, PA ) Senior Week ( week ) West Virginia Day ( WV ) July Independence Day ( federal ) Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea ( HI, unofficial ) Parents ' Day ( 36 ) Pioneer Day ( UT ) July -- August Summer vacation August American Family Day ( AZ ) Barack Obama Day ( IL ) Bennington Battle Day ( VT ) Hawaii Admission Day / Statehood Day ( HI ) Lyndon Baines Johnson Day ( TX ) National Aviation Day ( 36 ) Service Reduction Day ( MD ) Victory over Japan Day ( RI, former federal ) Women 's Equality Day ( 36 ) September Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Labor Day ( federal ) California Admission Day ( CA ) Carl Garner Federal Lands Cleanup Day ( 36 ) Constitution Day ( 36 ) Constitution Week ( week ) Defenders Day ( MD ) Gold Star Mother 's Day ( 36 ) National Grandparents Day ( 36 ) National Payroll Week ( week ) Native American Day ( CA, TN, proposed federal ) Patriot Day ( 36 ) September -- October Hispanic Heritage Month Oktoberfest Rosh Hashanah ( religious ) Yom Kippur ( religious ) October Breast Cancer Awareness Month Disability Employment Awareness Month Filipino American History Month LGBT History Month Columbus Day ( federal ) Halloween Alaska Day ( AK ) Child Health Day ( 36 ) General Pulaski Memorial Day German - American Day Indigenous Peoples ' Day ( VT ) International Day of Non-Violence Leif Erikson Day ( 36 ) Missouri Day ( MO ) National School Lunch Week Native American Day ( SD ) Nevada Day ( NV ) Sweetest Day White Cane Safety Day ( 36 ) October -- November Diwali ( religious ) November Native American Indian Heritage Month Veterans Day ( federal ) Thanksgiving ( federal ) Day after Thanksgiving ( 24 ) Election Day ( CA, DE, HI, KY, MT, NJ, NY, OH, PR, WV, proposed federal ) Family Day ( NV ) Hanukkah ( religious ) Lā Kūʻokoʻa ( HI, unofficial ) Native American Heritage Day ( MD, WA ) Obama Day ( Perry County, AL ) December Christmas ( religious, federal ) Alabama Day ( AL ) Christmas Eve ( KY, NC, SC ) Day after Christmas ( KY, NC, SC, TX ) Festivus Hanukkah ( religious, week ) Indiana Day ( IN ) Kwanzaa ( religious, week ) National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day ( 36 ) New Year 's Eve Pan American Aviation Day ( 36 ) Rosa Parks Day ( OH, OR ) Wright Brothers Day ( 36 ) Varies ( year round ) Eid al - Adha ( religious ) Eid al - Fitr ( religious ) Ramadan ( religious, month ) Legend : ( federal ) = federal holidays, ( state ) = state holidays, ( religious ) = religious holidays, ( week ) = weeklong holidays, ( month ) = monthlong holidays, ( 36 ) = Title 36 Observances and Ceremonies Bold indicates major holidays commonly celebrated in the United States, which often represent the major celebrations of the month. See also : Lists of holidays, Hallmark holidays, public holidays in the United States, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands. Federal holidays in the United States Current New Year 's Day Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Washington 's Birthday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Columbus Day Veterans Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day Proposed Flag Day ( 1950 ) Election Day ( 1993 ) Malcolm X Day ( 1993 -- 1994 ) Democracy Day ( 2005, 2014 ) Cesar Chavez Day ( 2008 ) Susan B. Anthony Day ( 2011 ) Native American Day ( 2013 ) Official holidays of the New York Stock Exchange Whole days New Year 's Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day Washington 's Birthday Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Christmas Day Partial days Day before Independence Day Day after Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Public holidays in Japan New Year 's Day ( Japanese New Year ) Coming of Age Day National Foundation Day Vernal Equinox Day Shōwa Day Constitution Memorial Day Greenery Day Children 's Day ( Okinawa Memorial Day ) Marine Day Mountain Day Respect for the Aged Day Autumnal Equinox Day Health and Sports Day Culture Day Labor Thanksgiving Day The Emperor 's Birthday Culture portal Holidays portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=New_Year%27s_Day&oldid=840218654 '' Categories : New Year celebrations January observances Public holidays in Australia Public holidays in Canada Public holidays in New Zealand Holidays Public holidays in the United Kingdom Public holidays in the United States Annual events Public holidays in the Republic of Ireland Public holidays in Ukraine Federal holidays in the United States Public holidays in Denmark Public holidays in Kazakhstan Summer holidays ( Southern Hemisphere ) Winter holidays ( Northern Hemisphere ) Hidden categories : CS1 uses Chinese - language script ( zh ) CS1 Chinese - language sources ( zh ) Articles needing additional references from December 2017 All articles needing additional references Infobox holiday fixed day Articles containing Latin - language text Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2010 Articles with Latin - language external links Commons category with local link different than on Wikidata Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the New International Encyclopedia Talk Contents About Wikipedia Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Español Esperanto 한국어 Íslenska Italiano עברית Bahasa Melayu မြန်မာဘာသာ 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча Scots Simple English Suomi Svenska தமிழ் తెలుగు ไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 粵語 中文 18 more Edit links This page was last edited on 8 May 2018, at 13 : 37. 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Question: when did new year's day become a holiday
Answer: 2000 BC