New Year's Day — 1 January — is a public holiday in almost every country on Earth. But the year hasn't always started in January, and many cultures still mark their own new year on different dates. Here's why 1 January became the global start of the year, and how the world celebrates.
See the holiday page for New Year's Day, or count down with our New Year countdown.
Why does the year start on January 1?
The date comes from ancient Rome. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar and fixed 1 January as the start of the year — partly to honour Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, who looks both backward and forward. The month "January" is named after him.
Before that, the Roman year had begun in March, which is why September, October, November and December are named after the Latin for seven, eight, nine and ten — they were once the 7th to 10th months.
How January 1 became the global date
The date wasn't always universal. During the Middle Ages, Christian Europe often started the year on other dates — 25 March (the Annunciation) or Christmas Day were common.
- 1582 — Pope Gregory XIII's Gregorian calendar reform standardised 1 January as New Year's Day in Catholic countries.
- Protestant and Orthodox countries adopted it gradually. Britain and its colonies only switched from a March new year to 1 January in 1752.
Today 1 January is the near-universal civil new year, even in countries that also celebrate a traditional one.
Other new years around the world
Many cultures celebrate their own new year on a different date:
| New Year | Approx. date | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese / Lunar New Year | Late Jan–Feb | China, much of East/SE Asia |
| Nowruz (Persian) | ~21 March | Iran, Central Asia |
| Ugadi / Vikram Samvat | March–April | India |
| Songkran / Thai New Year | ~13 April | Thailand |
| Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) | Sept | Israel, worldwide |
| Islamic New Year (Hijri) | Varies (lunar) | Muslim world |
See the Lunar New Year guide for the East Asian celebrations.
How New Year's Eve and Day are celebrated
- Fireworks at midnight — nearly universal, from Sydney Harbour to London to Rio.
- Countdowns — the famous ball drop in New York's Times Square.
- Spain: eating 12 grapes at midnight, one per chime.
- Scotland: Hogmanay and "first-footing" — the first guest of the year brings luck.
- Japan: temple bells rung 108 times, and special osechi food.
- Resolutions: the tradition of New Year's resolutions dates back to the ancient Babylonians and Romans.
Quick answers
Why does the year start on January 1? Julius Caesar set 1 January as the start of the year in 45 BC, honouring Janus, the god of beginnings. The Gregorian reform of 1582 confirmed it.
When is New Year's Day 2027? Friday, 1 January 2027 — it is always 1 January.
Which country celebrates New Year first? The Pacific islands near the date line — Kiribati and Samoa — enter the new year first, about 26 hours before the last places on Earth.
Why are September to December named after 7–10? Because the early Roman year began in March, making them the 7th to 10th months before January and February were added.