New Year

The New Year is the time or day at which a new calendar year begins and the calendar's year count increments by one. Many cultures have special ways to celebrate this moment. In the Gregorian calendar, which is the most used calendar system today, the New Year starts on January 1, known as New Year's Day. This day is preceded by New Year's Eve, a time for lively celebrations.

Other cultures mark the beginning of their year in different ways, often based on their own customs. For example, the lunisolar Chinese calendar and the lunar Islamic calendar have their own special start dates. The Iranian calendar begins on the March equinox, while the Ethiopian calendar starts in September according to the Gregorian calendar. India has many traditional calendars, each with its own first day.

During the Middle Ages in Western Europe, the date for celebrating the New Year changed depending on where you lived. It could be on March 1, March 25, Easter, September 1, or even December 25. Over time, most countries settled on using January 1 as New Year's Day, especially after they adopted the Gregorian calendar.

By type

New years can be grouped based on the type of calendar used. Some cultures use lunar or lunisolar calendars, while others use solar calendars to decide when the new year begins. Each type has its own way of marking this important time.

By month or season

January

January 1 marks the start of the year for many countries using the Gregorian calendar. This day is not a religious holiday for Orthodox Christians, even though it is a special day because it celebrates an important event in their faith. Some Orthodox countries still celebrate the New Year on January 1, while others follow a different calendar.

The Japanese New Year, called Shōgatsu, is celebrated from January 1 to January 3 or 6. Japan started using the Gregorian calendar in 1873, replacing its old lunar calendar.

The Sámi people celebrate Ođđajagemánnu in January.

Winter lunisolar new years

Lunisolar calendars restart each year based on the phases of the moon and the seasons. The Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, happens on the new moon of the first lunar month, usually between January 21 and February 21. It is a major celebration in China.

The Korean New Year, Seollal, is more important to Koreans than January 1, as it marks the first day of their lunar calendar and is a time for family gatherings.

The Vietnamese New Year, Tết Nguyên Đán, usually falls on the same day as the Chinese New Year because Vietnam uses a similar calendar.

The Tibetan New Year, Losar, occurs between January and March. The Taiwanese New Year, Kuè-nî, also falls between those months.

March

Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon after the northward equinox and lasted eleven days. In India, Nava Varsha is celebrated in March or April.

The Iranian New Year, Nowruz, marks the exact moment of the Northward equinox, usually on March 20 or 21, and is celebrated by many people across several countries. The Zoroastrian New Year aligns with Nowruz.

The Balinese New Year, Nyepi, is a day of silence, fasting, and meditation on Bali, observed from 6 am until 6 am the next morning. Even tourists must stay indoors, and the airport closes.

Ugadi marks the New Year for Telugu and Kannada people in southern India, usually in March or April. In the Kashmiri calendar, Navreh marks the New Year in March–April.

Gudi Padwa is celebrated as the Hindu New Year by people in Maharashtra, India, and Sanskar Padwa is celebrated in Goa. Both fall in March–April and coincide with Ugadi.

The Sindhi festival of Cheti Chand also celebrates the Sindhi New Year on the same days as Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.

The Thelemic New Year is usually celebrated on March 20, marking a special event in their beliefs. From 1155 until 1752, the civil year in England and its possessions began on March 25.

April

The Assyrian-Babylonian New Year, called Kha b'Nissan, occurs on April 1.

Mid-April (Spring in the Northern Hemisphere)

The new year for many South and Southeast Asian calendars falls between April 13–15, welcoming the start of spring.

The Baloch Hindu people in Pakistan and India celebrate their new year called Bege Roch. Tamil New Year, Puthandu, is celebrated in Tamil Nadu on April 13, 14, or 15, with special decorations and feasts.

Vaisakhi is celebrated on April 14 in Punjab. Nepal New Year begins on the 1st of Baisakh, falling between April 12 and 15.

The Dogra people of Himachal Pradesh celebrate Chaitti in Chaitra month. Jude-Sheetal is the Maithili New Year, also falling in April.

Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu is the Assamese New Year, celebrated on April 14 or 15. The Bengali New Year, Pôhela Boishakh, is celebrated on April 14 or 15 in Bangladesh and several Indian states.

Vishuva Sankranti or Pana Sankranti marks the Odia New Year on April 14. Cheirouba is the Manipuri New Year, celebrated on April 14.

Sinhalese New Year is celebrated in Sri Lanka with traditions linking to the harvest season. It begins at a specific time determined by astrologers.

Malayali New Year, Vishu, is celebrated in Kerala in mid-April. In parts of Karnataka, the new year is celebrated in April alongside Tamil and Malayali traditions.

The Water Festival marks the new year in many Southeast Asian countries from April 13 to 15. It includes traditions like gently sprinkling water as a sign of respect, though celebrations can become lively. It is known by different names in each country.

June

The Kutchi people's New Year occurs on Ashadi Beej, associated with the beginning of rains in the Kutch region. The Odunde Festival in June celebrates the new year for the Yoruba people. The Xooy ceremony marks the Serer New Year. In the Dogon religion, the Bulo festival marks their New Year.

July

The Zulu people's New Year occurs on the full moon of July.

September

Neyrouz, the Coptic New Year, continues the ancient Egyptian New Year tradition and usually falls on September 11 or 12. Enkutatash is the Ethiopian New Year, occurring on the same day as Neyrouz.

Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, a two-day holiday marking the beginning of the year with traditions like eating apple slices dipped in honey for a sweet year. The Pathans Kalasha celebrate Chowmus as their New Year. The Marwari New Year, Thapna, is celebrated on the day of Diwali. The Gujarati New Year, Bestu/Nao Varas, is celebrated the day after Diwali. The Sikkimese celebrate Losar as their new year. The Nepal Era New Year is celebrated by the Newars community on the fourth day of Diwali.

December

The Mizo people in northeast India celebrate Pawl Kut in December. The Inuit, Aleut, Yupik, Chukchi, and Iñupiat celebrate Quviasukvik as their New Year on Christmas Eve.

Variable

The Islamic New Year occurs on Muharram and falls about eleven days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. Satu Suro is the Javanese New Year, falling on the first day of the month of Suro and corresponding with Muharram. The ancient Egyptian New Year, Wep Renpet, originally coincided with the first appearance of Sirius and the annual flood of the Nile.

Christian liturgical year

Main article: Liturgical year

In the early days of Christianity, the church's year started on September 1. This date was chosen because it matched the beginning of a tax year in the Roman Empire. Even though the Roman New Year was celebrated on January 1, many churches used September 1 as their new year.

Over time, especially after the Roman Empire split, different churches developed their own ways of marking the year. The Eastern Orthodox churches still begin their year on September 1, celebrating many important events from that day through to Christmas and Easter. Some other churches, like the Coptic and Ethiopian Orthodox, start their year at different times, usually around September 11 or 12.

Historical European new year dates

During ancient times in Rome and the Roman Empire, the year began when new leaders took office. At first, this happened in May, then March, and later on January 1. This changed when Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar in 45 BC, setting January 1 as the start of the year.

In the Middle Ages, different parts of Europe used various important church days to mark the new year. Some places began the year on January 1, others on March 25, and some even used Easter or Christmas. Over time, most countries moved to using January 1 as the new year. For example, England switched to this date in 1752, while Scotland had already done so much earlier. Even France once used a different date for its new year during a special calendar they used from 1793 to 1805.

Adoptions of January 1

See also: Adoption of the Gregorian calendar and Old Style and New Style dates

It took a long time for January 1 to become the common start of the new year. Different places used different days to begin their years. For example, the Republic of Venice started their year on March 1 until 1797. In Russia, the year began on March 1 from 988 until 1492, and then on September 1 until 1700. Russia finally changed to January 1 as the start of the new year in 1700.