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,
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.
History
See also: Old Style and New Style dates, Julian year (calendar), and Lunisolar calendar
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. However, dates in March, coinciding with the spring equinox, or commemorating the Annunciation of Jesus, along with a variety of Christian feast dates were used throughout the Middle Ages, though calendars often continued to display the months in columns running from January to December
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, "[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. 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 25 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.[citation needed]
- en.wikipedia.org
