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New Year's Day 🥂

The celebration of New Year's Day in the United States has its origins in ancient customs and traditions that have evolved over time.

Here's an overview of the origin and history of New Year's Day in the USA

1. Ancient Origins

The concept of marking the beginning of a new year has ancient roots. Many ancient civilizations, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Romans, celebrated the New Year in various ways, often tied to the winter solstice or the spring equinox.

2. Roman Influence

The Romans were instrumental in shaping the modern New Year's celebration. In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which established January 1st as the beginning of the year. This date was chosen to honor the Roman god Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions, who had two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

3. Christian Influence

With the spread of Christianity, the celebration of the New Year took on religious significance. January 1st became associated with the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, commemorating the eighth day after Jesus' birth when he was circumcised and named.

4. Cultural and Regional Traditions

As European settlers arrived in North America, they brought with them their own New Year's customs and traditions. Different cultural and regional practices influenced the way New Year's Day was celebrated across the colonies and later in the United States.

5. Fireworks and Noisemaking

The tradition of using fireworks and making noise on New Year's Eve can be traced back to ancient times when loud noises were believed to drive away evil spirits. The practice of lighting fireworks and making noise at the stroke of midnight continues to be a popular tradition in many places across the United States.

6. Times Square Ball Drop

One of the most iconic New Year's traditions in the United States is the Times Square Ball Drop in New York City. This event began in 1907 and has been held annually ever since, attracting massive crowds and millions of viewers watching on television.

7. Resolutions and Celebrations

The tradition of making New Year's resolutions, where individuals set personal goals or make pledges for the upcoming year, has also become common in the United States. New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are often celebrated with parties, gatherings, and special events to welcome the new year.

Today, New Year's Day in the United States is widely celebrated as a time of reflection, renewal, and hope for the future. It is a day when people come together to celebrate the passing of the old year and the beginning of a new one, often with festive events, parties, and expressions of goodwill.

While the legal holiday remains on, if that date happens to be on a Saturday or Sunday, then federal government employees will instead take the day off on the adjacent Friday or Monday, respectively.

List of dates

Year Weekday Date Name Time
2024 Monday Jan 1, 2024 New Year's Day 🥂 10 months ago
2025 Wednesday Jan 1, 2025 New Year's Day 🥂 1 month from now
2026 Thursday Jan 1, 2026 New Year's Day 🥂 1 year from now
2027 Friday Jan 1, 2027 New Year's Day 🥂 2 years from now
2028 Saturday Jan 1, 2028 New Year's Day 🥂 3 years from now
2029 Monday Jan 1, 2029 New Year's Day 🥂 4 years from now
2030 Tuesday Jan 1, 2030 New Year's Day 🥂 5 years from now
2031 Wednesday Jan 1, 2031 New Year's Day 🥂 6 years from now
2032 Thursday Jan 1, 2032 New Year's Day 🥂 7 years from now
2033 Saturday Jan 1, 2033 New Year's Day 🥂 8 years from now
2034 Sunday Jan 1, 2034 New Year's Day 🥂 9 years from now
2034 Monday Jan 2, 2034 New Year's Day 🥂 (Observed) 9 years from now
2035 Monday Jan 1, 2035 New Year's Day 🥂 10 years from now
2036 Tuesday Jan 1, 2036 New Year's Day 🥂 11 years from now
2037 Thursday Jan 1, 2037 New Year's Day 🥂 12 years from now
2038 Friday Jan 1, 2038 New Year's Day 🥂 13 years from now
2039 Saturday Jan 1, 2039 New Year's Day 🥂 14 years from now
2023 Sunday Jan 1, 2023 New Year's Day 🥂 1 year ago
2023 Monday Jan 2, 2023 New Year's Day 🥂 (Observed) 1 year ago
2022 Saturday Jan 1, 2022 New Year's Day 🥂 2 years ago
2021 Friday Jan 1, 2021 New Year's Day 🥂 3 years ago
2020 Wednesday Jan 1, 2020 New Year's Day 🥂 4 years ago
2019 Tuesday Jan 1, 2019 New Year's Day 🥂 5 years ago
The festivity dates listed in the table above have been prepared with the greatest possible care and to the best of our knowledge. If you find any bugs, please let us know using below the feedback form. Thanks very much.

Notice, in particular, conversion from the other calendar to the Gregorian calendar, there may be discrepancies.