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|holiday_name=New Year's Day |color1=lightgreen |color2=yellow |color3=lightblue |observedby=people around the world |date= January 1 |observances=Making New Year's Resolutions , parades, additional sporting events |type=International |significance=the first day of the Gregorian year |relatedto= New Year's Eve which occurs the previous day, and Christmas , Kwanzaa , Hanukkah , and Thanksgiving , which form the rest of the North American holiday season }} This article is about January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. For all other New Year celebrations, see New Year . For information on the movie, "New Year's Day", see For information on the movie, "Happy New Year directed by Farah Khan , see New Year's Day is the first day of the Year , in the Gregorian Calendar . 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 the passing year, especially on Radio , Television , and in Newspaper s, 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 Disaster s, 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 on the night between December 31 and January 1 , 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 an occasion to make New Year Resolution s, 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 . For many of those countries, if January 1 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, then the Friday before or the Monday after will be a public holiday. The official reason that it is not a public holiday in Israel is due to the day's historic origins as a Christian religious holiday, although many other nations with non-Christian majorities have a public January 1 holiday. History 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, " not make vetulas, figures of the Old Woman , little deer or iotticos or set tables 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. In the Middle Ages , most European countries used the Julian Calendar , but a variety of dates were used as the first day of the year; see New Year for details. The adoption of the Gregorian Calendar led eventually to the adoption of January 1 as New Year's Day in all countries using that calendar. Specific, high-profile or common celebrations New Year's Day
New Year's Eve See Also: New Year's Eve
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's 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 Blanket s, Gift Certificate s to stores which specialize in baby related merchandise, and Diaper s. See also |