New Year

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New Year

The New Year is an event that happens when a culture

Culture

Culture is difficult to define. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions....
celebrates the end of one year

Year

A year is the time between two recurrences of an event related to the orbit of the Earth around the Sun. By extension, this can be applied to any planet: for example, a "Martian year" is the time in which Mars completes its own orbit....
and the beginning of the next year. Cultures that measure yearly calendar

Calendar

A calendar is a system of organize days for a social, religious, commercial or administrative purpose. This organization is done by giving names to periods of time ? typically days, weeks, months and years....
s all have New Year celebrations.

ountries governed by the Gregorian calendar

Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by the papal bull Inter gravissimas....
, the celebration of New Year is celebrated on January 1, the date that is considered the most festive of them. Traditionally, the Roman calendar began the first day of March.

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Encyclopedia

The New Year is an event that happens when a culture

Culture

Year

Calendar

Western new year

In countries governed by the Gregorian calendar

Gregorian calendar

Julius Caesar

'Gaius Julius Caesar' , July 13, 100 BC ? March 15, 44 BC,) was a Roman Republic military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, in 47 BC, changed the system, creating the Julian calendar, with some modifications in the time of Marco Antonio consul in 44 BC, the emperor Augustus Caesar in 8 BC and finally by Pope Gregory XIII

Pope Gregory XIII

Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585....
in 1582, is used today. This year begins on January 1. Subsequently, the Gregorian calendar had the habit and the celebration was marked with a religious significance during the Middle Ages and later centuries.

With the expansion of Western culture to the rest of the world during the twentieth century, the January 1 date became universal in nature, even in countries with their own New Year celebrations (e.g., China

China

China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
).

At present, the celebration of New Year is a major celebration worldwide. Many large-scale events are held in major cities around the world New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve is on , the final day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the day before New Year's Day.New Year's Eve is a separate observance from the observance of New Year's Day....
(New Year's Eve for the December 31), being accompanied by the largest fireworks

Fireworks

A firework is classified as a low explosive material pyrotechnics device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display....
events. The largest events in the world are :

Valparaíso
Valparaíso

Valpara?so is a major city in Chile and one of that country's most important seaports and an increasingly vital cultural center in the hemisphere's Pacific Southwest....
, Chile
Chile

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow coastal strip wedged between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean....
Madeira
Madeira

Madeira is a Portugal archipelago in the north Atlantic Ocean that lies between and . It is one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, with Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island being the only inhabited islands....
(Funchal
Funchal

Funchal , population 100,526, is the chief city of Madeira Island and is the capital of the Madeira Autonomous Region, Portugal. Funchal is also the largest city on the islands and with its neighbouring boroughs of Camara de Lobos, Santa Cruz, Machico and Ribeira Brava has over 150,000 inhabitants....
- Portugal
Portugal

Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east....
)
Sydney
Sydney

Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
, Australia
Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....
Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong , officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located in Southern China in East Asia, bordering the province of Guangdong to the north and facing the South China Sea to the east, west and south....
, China
London
London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
New York
New York City

The City of New York is the List of United States cities by population in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the List of urban areas by population....
, United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
Berlin
Berlin

Berlin is the Capital of Germany city and one of sixteen States of Germany of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city....
, Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....
São Paulo
São Paulo

S?o Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, and along with Tokyo, Seoul and Mexico City is among the four largest metropolitan regions of the world....
, Brazil
Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is a country in South America. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, occupying nearly half of South America, the List of countries by population country, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world....

Sydney

Sydney is the List of cities in Australia by population in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of approximately 4.34 million . It is the List of Australian capital cities of New South Wales, and was the site of the first British Empire colony in Australia....
launched over 80,000 fireworks

Fireworks

Valparaíso

Valpara?so is a major city in Chile and one of that country's most important seaports and an increasingly vital cultural center in the hemisphere's Pacific Southwest....
upwards of two million visitors witnessed the largest fireworks

Fireworks

Valparaíso

Valpara?so is a major city in Chile and one of that country's most important seaports and an increasingly vital cultural center in the hemisphere's Pacific Southwest....
to Concon, Chile, all in 25 minutes of entertainment. In New York

New York

The State of New York is a U.S. state in the Mid-Atlantic States and Northeastern United States regions of the United States and is the nation's List of U.S....
, the celebration is focused around a big crystal ball that descends in the ten second countdown in Times Square

Times Square

Times Square is a major intersection in Manhattan, a borough of New York City at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd Street to West 47th Street s....
, and last year was also the party with the largest number of attendees - more than three million people.

In the culture of Latin America

Latin America

Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages ? particularly Spanish language and Portuguese language, and variably French language ? are primarily spoken....
there are a variety of traditions and superstitions for these dates as omens for the coming year. January still remains a symbol of New Year's celebration.

The New Year feast is closely related to the celebration of Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve, December 24, is the night before Christmas Day, which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ ....
, Christmas

Christmas

Christmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts Twelve Days of Christmas....
and Hannukah. Due to the closeness between all these events, much of the world sees the last week of the year as the beginning of the holiday period, either in winter (in the Northern Hemisphere) or summer (in the Southern Hemisphere).

According to the Christian tradition, on January 1 coincides with the circumcision of Christ

Christ

Christ is the English language term for the Greek meaning "the anointing", which is a title given to the Reigning Messiah in the given age of the Zodiac....
(eight days after birth), when the name of Jesus

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation ....
(Luke (II: 21)).

In Jewish tradition, honey is a symbol for the new year—Rosh Hashana. At the traditional meal for that holiday, apple slices are dipped in honey and eaten to bring a sweet new year. Some Rosh Hashana greetings show honey and an apple, symbolizing the feast. In some congregations, small straws of honey are given out to usher in the new year.

Modern new year celebrations

The most common modern dates of celebration are listed below, ordered and grouped by their appearance relative to the conventional Western calendar.

Many cities across the world celebrate the New Year. The celebrations usually include a firework's display, and other festivities. London

London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the most populous municipality in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, History of London goes back to its founding by the Roman Empire....
, for example, has a major fireworks display along the River Thames

River Thames

The Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows through several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading, Berkshire and Windsor, Berkshire....
, followed by a parade

Parade

A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float or sometimes large balloons....
on New Year's Day

New Year's Day

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 ....
.

The Gregorian calendar

Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by the papal bull Inter gravissimas....
is now used by many countries as the official calendar. This has meant that celebrations for the New Year have become much larger than before. Some countries even consider 1 January to be a national holiday.

January

1 January: The first official day of the year in the Gregorian calendar
Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by the papal bull Inter gravissimas....
used by most countries
Country

Country may refer to the territory of a state, or to a smaller, or former, political division of a geographical region. In another meaning of the word, the country is also a term used to refer to rural areas....
. Eight of the twelve biggest Eastern Orthodox Churches which have adopted the Revised Julian calendar
Revised Julian calendar

The Revised Julian calendar or, less formally, New Calendar, is a calendar scheme, originated in 1923, which effectively discontinued the 340 years of divergence between the naming of dates sanctioned by those Eastern Orthodoxy adopting it and the Gregorian calendar scheme that has come to predominate worldwide....
- Bulgaria
Bulgaria

The state of Bulgaria , Scientific transliteration Balgarija, officially the Republic of Bulgaria has played a significant role in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe for over fourteen centuries....
, Cyprus
Cyprus

Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is an island country situated in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, east of Greece, west of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, south of Turkey and north of Egypt....
, Egypt
Egypt

Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west....
, Greece
Greece

Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , is a country in southeastern Europe, situated on the southern end of the Balkans. It has borders with Albania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the north, and Turkey to the east....
, Romania
Romania

Romania is a country located in Southeastern Europe Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian Mountains, bordering on the Black Sea....
, Syria
Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is an Arab-majority country in Southwest Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Israel to the southwest, Jordan to the south, Iraq to the east, and Turkey to the north....
and Turkey
Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country that stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in southwest Asia and Thrace in the Balkans region of Southern Europe....
- also celebrate 1 January as the New Year.

In the Eastern Orthodox Church
Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world with an estimated 225 million members worldwide. It is considered by its adherents to be the Four Marks of the Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago....
, the civil New Year falls on Gregorian 14 January (1 January in the Julian calendar
Julian calendar

The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, and came into force in 45 BC . It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year, known at least since Hipparchus....
). Many in the countries where Eastern Orthodoxy predominates celebrate both the Gregorian and Julian New Year holidays, with the Gregorian day celebrated as a civic holiday
Civic holiday

A civil holiday, civic holiday or legal holiday is a day that is legally recognized and celebrated as a holiday in a particular sovereign state or jurisdictional subdivision of such, e.g., a state or a province and may be known as a public holiday....
, and the Julian date as the "Old New Year
Old New Year

The Old New Year , or the Orthodox New Year is an informal traditional Slavic Orthodox holiday, celebrated as the start of the New Year by the Julian calendar....
", a religious holiday. The orthodox churches of Georgia
Georgia (country)

Georgia is a transcontinental country in the Caucasus region, located at the dividing line between Europe and Asia. It is bordered by the Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia to the south, and Turkey to the southwest....
, Jerusalem
Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and its List of Israeli cities in both population and area, with a population of 747,600 residents over an area of if Positions on Jerusalem East Jerusalem is included....
, Russia
Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
, the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia

The Republic of Macedonia , , often referred to simply as Macedonia, is a landlocked country on the Balkans in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Serbia to the north, Bulgaria to the east, Greece to the south and Albania to the west....
and Serbia
Serbia

Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a country in Central Europe and Balkans Europe, covering the southern part of the Pannonian Plain and the central part of the Balkans....
still use the Julian Calendar
Julian calendar

The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, and came into force in 45 BC . It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year, known at least since Hipparchus....
.

The Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year or Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is often called the Lunar New Year, especially by people in mainland China and Taiwan....
, also known as the Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year refers to the beginning of the year in several calendars. It is commonly assumed that they are all based on a lunar calendar. However, this is not the case....
, occurs every year on the new moon
New moon

In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in Conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth....
of the first lunar month, about four to eight weeks before spring
Spring (season)

Spring is one of the four temperate seasons. Spring marks the transition from winter into summer....
(Lichun
Lichun

The traditional East Asian calendars divide a year into 24 solar terms . L?chun or Risshun is the 1st solar term....
). The exact date can fall anytime between 21 January and 21 February (inclusive) of the Gregorian Calendar
Gregorian calendar

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, and decreed by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by the papal bull Inter gravissimas....
. Traditionally, years were marked by one of twelve Earthly Branches
Earthly Branches

The Earthly Branches provide one China system for reckoning time.This system was built from observations of the orbit of Jupiter. Chinese astronomers divided the celestial circle into 12 sections to follow the orbit of Su?xing ....
, represented by an animal, and one of ten Heavenly Stems
Heavenly Stems

The ten Celestial Stems , sometimes known as Heavenly Stems, are the elements of an ancient China cyclic character numeral system: Jia , Yi , Bing , Ding , Wu , Ji , Geng , Xin , Ren , Gui ....
, which correspond to the five elements
Five elements (Chinese philosophy)

In many traditional Chinese theory field, matters and its developmental movement stage can be classified into the Wu Xing , or the Five Movements, Five Phases or Five Steps/Stages, traditionally translated as Five Elements....
. This combination cycles every 60 years
Sexagenary cycle

The China sexagenary cycle , also known as Stems-Branches , is a cyclic numeral system of 60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the 10 Heavenly Stems and the 12 Earthly Branches ....
. It is the most important Chinese celebration of the year.

The Vietnamese New Year is the T?t Nguyên Ðán
T?t

T?t Nguy?n ??n , more commonly known by its shortened name T?t, is the most important and popular Holidays in Vietnam and festival in Vietnam....
which is for most times the same day as the Chinese New Year.

The Tibet
Tibet

Tibet is a Tibetan Plateau in Asia, north of the Himalayas, and the home to the indigenous Tibetan people and its related ethnic groups. With an average elevation of 4,900 metres , it is the highest region on Earth and has in recent decades increasingly been referred to as the "Roof of the World"....
an New Year is Losar
Losar

Losar is the Tibetan language word for "new year." ' holds the semantic field "year, age"; ' holds the semantic field "new, fresh". Losar is the most important holiday in Tibet....
and falls from January through March.

March

Nava (new) Varsha (year) is celebrated in India in various regions in March-April.

Hola Mohalla
Hola Mohalla

Hola Mahalla is a Sikh festival which begins on the first day of the lunar month of Chet in the Nanakshahi calendar. It most often falls in March, and sometimes coincides with the Sikh New Year....
, New Year's Day in the Sikh
Sikhism

Sikhism , founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab region, is the Major religious groups organized religion in the world....
Nanakshahi calendar
Nanakshahi calendar

The Nanakshahi calendar is a solar calendar that was adopted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee to determine the dates for important Sikhism events....
is on 14 March.

The Iran
Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea....
ian New Year
Iranian calendar

The Iranian calendar or Solar Hejri is an astronomical solar calendar and one of the longest chronological records in history and is currently used in Iran and Afghanistan as the main official calendar....
, called Nowruz, is the day containing the exact moment of the vernal equinox, commencing the start of the spring season. In 2008 this falls on 20 March.

The Iranian tradition was also passed on to Central Asian countries, including Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Uighurs, and there is known as Nauryz. It is usually celebrated on 22 March.

The Zoroastrian New Year coincides with the Iran
Iran

Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea....
ian New Year of Nowruz. It is celebrated by the Parsis in India and by Zoroastrians and Persians across the world.

In the Bahá'í calendar
Bahá'í calendar

The Bah?'? calendar, also called the Bad? calendar, used by the Bah?'? Faith, is a solar calendar with regular years of 365 days, and leap years of 366 days....
, the new year occurs on the vernal equinox on 21 March, and is called Naw-Rúz.

In the Saka Calendar (Balinese-Javanese Calendar) the celebration of new year falls on 30rd of March in this year. the celebration gather of Nyepi, Balinese Hindu holiday.

The Telugu New Year
Ugadi

Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa....
generally falls in the months of March or April. The people of Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , abbreviated A.P.,is a state situated on eastern coast of India. It is India's List of states of India by area and List of states of India by population....
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
celebrate the advent of Lunar year
Hindu calendar

The Hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar....
this day. This day is celebrated across entire Andhra Pradesh as UGADI(Meaning the Start of a new Year.).The first month is Chaitra Masam. Masam means month.

Kashmiri Calendar, Navreh (New Year): 5083 Saptarshi/2064 Vikrami/2007-08 AD, 19 March.

Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa

Gudhi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Maharashtra and Hindu Konkani peoples ....
is celebrated as the first day of the Hindu
Hindu calendar

The Hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar....
year by the people of Maharashtra
Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a States and territories of India located on the western coast of India. Maharashtra is a part of Western India. It is India's List of states of India by area and List of states of India by population....
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
. This day falls in March or April and coincides with Ugadi
Ugadi

Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa....
. (see: Deccan)

The Kannada New Year or Ugadi
Ugadi

Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa....
is celebrated by the people of Karnataka
Karnataka

Karnataka is a States and territories of India in the southern part of India. It was Unification of Karnataka on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act....
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
as the beginning of a new year according to the Hindu Calendar
Hindu calendar

The Hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar....
. The first month of the new Year is Chaitra
Chaitra

Chaitra is a month of the Hindu calendar. In Indian national calendar Chaitra is the first month of the year. It begins in March or April, depending upon the position of planet system....
.

Sindh
Sindh

Sindh is one of the four Subdivisions of Pakistan of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. Different cultural and ethnic groups also reside in Sindh including Urdu-speaking Muslim refugees who migrated to Pakistan from India upon independence as well as the people migrated from other provinces after independence....
i festival of Cheti Chand
Cheti Chand

Cheti Chand is celebrated as New Year's Day by Sindhis, which falls on the same day as Ugadi, the New Year in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and Gudi Padwa, the New Year Day in Maharashtra....
is celebrated on the same day as Ugadi
Ugadi

Ugadi is the new year's day for the people of the Deccan region of India. While the people of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh use the term Ugadi for this festival, the people of Maharashtra term the same festival, observed on the same day, Gudi Padwa....
/Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa

Gudhi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Maharashtra and Hindu Konkani peoples ....
to mark the celebration of the Sindhi New Year.

The Thelemic
Thelema

Thelema is a philosophy of life based on the rule or law, "Do what thou wilt." The ideal of "Do what thou wilt" and its association with the word Thelema goes back to Fran?ois Rabelais, but was more fully developed and proselytized by Aleister Crowley, who founded a religion named Thelema based on this ideal....
new year on 20 March is usually celebrated with an invocation to Ra-Hoor-Khuit, commemorating the beginning of the New Aeon
Aeon (Thelema)

Within the system of Thelema, history is broken down into a series of Aeons, each with its own dominant concept of divinity and its own "formula" of redemption and advancement....
in 1904. It also marks the start of the twenty two day Thelemic holy season, which ends at the third day of the writing of The Book of the Law
The Book of the Law

Liber AL vel Legis is the central sacred text of Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. Its full title is Liber AL vel Legis, sub figura CCXX, as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI, and it is commonly referred to as The Book of the Law....
. This date is also known as The Feast of the Supreme Ritual. There are some that believe the Thelemic New Year falls on either 19,20,21 March, depending on the Vernal Equinox, this is The Feast for the Equinox of the Gods which is held on the Vernal Equinox of each year to commemorate the founding of Thelema in 1904. In 1904 the Vernal Equinox was on a 21st and it was the day after Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley , , was a United Kingdom occultist, writer, mountaineering, poet, and yogi. He was an influential member of several occult organizations, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the A?A?, and Ordo Templi Orientis , and is best known today for his Works of Aleister Crowley, especi...
ended his Horus Invocation that brought on the new Æon and thelemic New Year.

April

The Assyria
Assyria

Assyria was a political state centered on the Upper Tigris river, in Mesopotamia , that came to rule regional empires a number of times in history....
n New Year, called Rish Nissanu, occurs on 1 April

The Punjabi
Punjabi Culture

Punjabi Culture is the culture of the Punjab region. It is one of the oldest and richest cultures in world history, dating from ancient antiquity to the modern era....
(Sikh
Sikh

Sikh is the title and name given to an adherent of Sikhism. The term has its origin in the Sanskrit ' "disciple, learner" or ' "instruction"....
) new year Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is one of the most significant holidays in Sikh calendar, commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa in 1699. Vaisakhi is celebrated by the Khalsa as their birthday every year, the day corresponding to the event when they were created by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699....
is celebrated on 13 April and celebrates the harvest.

The Nepal
Nepal

Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and is the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by India....
i new year is celebrated in spring, on the first day of the lunar month Baisakh. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually falls between 12 and 15 April.

The Thai
Thai New Year

The Thai New Year is celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. It coincides with the New Year of many :Zh:?? in South Asia and Southeast Asia....
and Lao New Year are celebrated from 13 to 15 April by splashing water.

The Cambodian New Year
Cambodian New Year

Cambodian New Year or Chaul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally "Enter the New Year", is the name of the Cambodia holiday that celebrates the new year....
and Lao New Year
Lao New Year

The Lao New Year called "Bpee Mai" or "Songkan" is celebrated every year mostly around April 13 to April 16....
are celebrated from 13 to 15 April.

The Bengal
Bengal

Bengal , is a historical and geographical region in the northeast of South Asia. Today it is mainly divided between the independent sovereign nation of the Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal in India, although some regions of the previous kingdoms of Bengal are now part of the neighboring Indian states of Bihar, Assam, Tripura and Oris...
i New Year Pohela Baisakh is celebrated on 14 or 15 April in a festive manner in both Bangladesh
Bangladesh

, officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a country in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south....
and West Bengal
West Bengal

West Bengal is a States and territories of India in eastern India. With Bangladesh, which lies on its eastern border, the state forms the ethno-linguistic region of Bengal....
, India
India

India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world....
.

The Sinhalese New Year falls In April, celebrated with the harvest festval (the month of Bak) when the sun moves from the Meena Rashiya (House of Pisces) to the Mesha Rashiya (House of Aries) Sri Lankans begin celebrating their National New Year "Aluth Avurudhu" in Sinhala and "Puththandu (??????????)" in Tamil. However, unlike the usual practice where the new year begins at midnight, the National New Year begins at the time determined by the astrologers. Not only the beginning of the new year but the conclusion of the old year is also specified by the astrologers. And unlike the customary ending and beginning of new year, there is a period of a few hours in between the conclusion of the Old Year and the commencement of the New Year , which is called the "nona gathe" (neutral period). During this time one is expected to keep off from all types of work and engage solely in religious activities.

In India, the Tamil New Year
Puthandu

Puthandu, or better known as Tamil New Year, is the celebration of the first day of the Tamil new year traditionally in mid-April by people of Tamil people origin in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in India, and by the Tamil people population in Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka....
and Vishu
Vishu

Vishu - , is a festival held in the state of Kerala in South India . Similar festivals are celebrated in Punjab and Assam, in India, around the first day in the Malayalam calendar of Medam ....
are celebrated on the same day respectively in the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 States and territories of India of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh....
and Kerala
Kerala

Kerala is a Indian Union States and territories of India located in the southwestern part of India. With an Arabian Sea coastline on the west, it is bordered on the north by Karnataka and by Tamil Nadu on the south and east....
. They generally fall on 13 or 14 April. The first month of the Tamil New Year is called Chithrai. Every year in the month of Chithrai (????????), in the temple city of Madurai
Madurai

Madurai , is the oldest inhabited city in the Indian peninsula. It is a city in Indian state of Tamil Nadu and is a municipal corporation situated on the banks of the Vaigai River in Madurai district....
, the Chithrai Thiruvizha is celebrated in the Meenakshi Temple. A huge exhibition is also held, called Chithrai Porutkaatchi. In some parts of Southern Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 States and territories of India of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai . Tamil Nadu lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by Puducherry , Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh....
, it is also called Chithrai Vishu
Vishu

Vishu - , is a festival held in the state of Kerala in South India . Similar festivals are celebrated in Punjab and Assam, in India, around the first day in the Malayalam calendar of Medam ....
. The day is marked with a feast in Hindu homes and the entrance to the houses are decorated elaborately with kolam
Kolam

Kolam is a form of sandpainting that is drawn using rice powder by female members of the family in front of their home. It is widely practised by Hindus in South India....
s. In some parts of Karnataka
Karnataka

Karnataka is a States and territories of India in the southern part of India. It was Unification of Karnataka on November 1, 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act....
, New year
New Year

The New Year is an event that happens when a culture celebrates the end of one year and the beginning of the next year. Cultures that measure yearly calendars all have New Year celebrations....
may be celebrated on this day, although it is most commonly celebrated on the day of Gudi Padwa
Gudi Padwa

Gudhi Padwa is celebrated on the first day of the Chaitra month, and is celebrated as New Year's Day by Maharashtra and Hindu Konkani peoples ....
, the Maharashtrian
Maharashtrian

Maharashtrian can refer to:*An ethno-linguistic group of people from Maharashtra, India, speaking Marathi language, see Marathi people...
new year as well.

Based on the long history of the tamil language and in consultation with experts, the Tamil Nadu Government (Chief Minister Kalaignar M. Karunanithi) has announced the month of 'Thai' as the first month of tamil year. The Tamil New Year will officially be celebrated in the month of thai (falls usually on 15 January). This is not based on religion, but on the long tamil culture. The day is also celebrated as 'PONGAL' (harvest festival) in Tamil Nadu. Other states like, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra celebrate harvest festivals during this month.

Northern fall

Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday commonly referred to as the "Judaism New Year." It is observed on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, as ordained in the Torah, in ....
(Hebrew
Hebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic languages of the Afro-Asiatic languages. Modern Hebrew is spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Classical Hebrew is used for prayer or study in Jews communities around the world....
for 'head of the year') is a holiday commemorating the culmination of the seven days of Creation
Creation according to Genesis

Creation according to Genesis is the creation myth found in the Hebrew Bible, . It describes the making of the Firmament and the Earth and of the first humans by God in Abrahamic religions ....
, and marking God's yearly renewal of His world. The day has elements of festivity and introspection, as God is traditionally believed to be assessing His creation and determining the fate of all men and creatures for the coming year.

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the New Year, called Neyrouz, coincides with 11 September in the Gregorian calendar between 1900 and 2099, with the exception of the year before Gregorian leap years, when Neyrouz occurs on 12 September). The Coptic year 1723 began in September 2005. The Ethiopia
Ethiopia

Ethiopia , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country situated in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia is bordered by Eritrea to the north, Sudan to the west, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east and Djibouti to the northeast....
n Orthodox New Year, called Enkutatash
Enkutatash

Enkutatash is the first day of the New Year in Ethiopia. It occurs on Meskerem 1 on the Ethiopian calendar, which is September 11 according to the Gregorian calendar....
, falls on the same date as Neyrouz; the Ethiopian calendar
Ethiopian calendar

The Ethiopian calendar , also called the Ge'ez calendar, is the principal calendar used in Ethiopia and is also the liturgical year of Christians in Eritrea belonging to the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahdo Church, Eastern Catholic Church of Eritrea and Lutheran ....
year 1999 thus began on 11 September 2006.

The Marwari
Marwaris

Marwaris are the people from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India. Though Marwari as a genre originated from a place name, the Marwari people have spread to many regions of India, and even to neighboring countries, as they expanded their business and trade networks....
New Year is celebrated on the day of the festival of Diwali
Diwali

Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India. Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights....

The Gujarati
Gujarati people

Gujarati people , or Gujaratis, is an umbrella term used to describe traditionally Gujarati language-speaking people who can trace their ancestry to the state of Gujarat in India....
New Year is usually celebrated the day after the festival of Diwali (which occurs in mid-fall - either October or November, depending on the Lunar calendar
Lunar calendar

A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the moon phase. The only widely used purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar, whose year always consists of 12 lunar months....
). The Gujarati New Year is synonymous with sud ekam of the Kartik month - the first day of the first month of Gujarati lunar calendar. Most other Hindus celebrate the New Year in early spring, but the Gujarati farming community celebrates the New Year after Diwali to mark the beginning of a new fiscal year.

Some neo-pagans celebrate Samhain
Samhain

Samhain is a festival on the end of the harvest season in Gaels and Britons cultures, with aspects of a festival of the dead. Many scholars believe that it was the beginning of the Celtic year....
(a festival of the ancient Celts, held around 1 November) as a new year's day representing the new cycle of the Wheel of the Year
Wheel of the Year

The Wheel of the Year is a Wiccan and Neopaganism term for the annual cycle of the Earth's seasons. It consists of eight festivals, spaced at approximately even intervals throughout the year....
, although they do not use a different calendar that starts on this day.

The now deceased Murador Aboriginal tribe of Western Australia celebrates New Years on what is known on present day calendars to be the 30th of October. A time of reconciliation and celebration of friendship, the Murador tribe were have said to place great importance on the past as well as the year that was coming

Variable

The Islamic New Year
Muslim New Year

The Islamic New Year is a cultural event which Muslims observe on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims use the day to remember the significance of this month, and the Hijra , or migration, Prophets in Islam Muhammad made to the city now known as Medina....
occurs on 1 Muharram
Muharram

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar....
. Since the Muslim calendar is based on 12 lunar month
Lunar month

In lunar calendars, a lunar month is the time between two identical syzygy . There are many variations. In Middle-Eastern and European traditions, the month starts when the new moon becomes first visible at evening after Astronomical conjunction with the Sun 1 or 2 days before that evening ....
s amounting to about 354 days, the Muslim New Year occurs about eleven days earlier each year in relation to the Gregorian calendar, with two Muslim New Years falling in Gregorian year 2008.

Christian liturgical year

Since the 17th century, the Roman Catholic ecclesiastic year has started on the first day of Advent

Advent

Advent is a Liturgical year of the Christianity, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas....
, the Sunday nearest to St. Andrew's Day

St. Andrew's Day

St. Andrew's Day is the Calendar of Saints of Saint Andrew. It is celebrated on 30 November.Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and St....
(30 November). According to the Latin Rite

Latin Rite

The Latin Rite is one of the 23 sui iuris particular Churches within the Catholic Church. This particular Church developed in western Europe and north Africa, where, from classical antiquity to the Renaissance, Latin was the principal language of education and culture, and so also of the liturgy....
of the Catholic Church, the liturgical year begins at 4:00 p.m. on the Saturday preceding the fourth Sunday prior to 25 December. The same liturgical calendar is followed by churches descended from it, including the Anglican and Lutheran Churches.

The Eastern Orthodox Church liturgical calendar

Liturgical year

The liturgical year, also known as the Christian year, consists of the cycle of liturgy seasons in Christianity churches which determines when Calendar of saints, Memorial s, Commemoration s, and Solemnity are to be observed and which portions of Scripture are to be read....
begins on 1 September — proceeding annually from the celebration of Jesus

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation ....
' birth in the winter (Christmas

Christmas

Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
), to his Ascension and the Assumption of his mother (Dormition of the Theotokos

Dormition of the Theotokos

The Dormition of the Theotokos is a Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Theotokos ....
/ Virgin Mary) in the summer.

Historical Christian new year dates

The ancient Roman calendar

Roman calendar

The Roman calendar changed its form several times in the time between founding of Rome and the fall of the Roman Empire. This article generally discusses the early Roman or 'pre-Julian' calendars....
started the year on 1 March, which is still reflected in the names of some months which derive from Latin

Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
: September (seven), October (eight), November (nine), December (ten). The year used in dates during the Roman Republic

Roman Republic

The Roman Republic was the phase of the Ancient Rome characterized by a republican form of government; a period which began with the overthrow of the Roman Roman Kingdom, c....
and the Roman Empire

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
was the consular year, which began on the day when consuls first entered office — probably 1 May before 222 BC, 15 March from 222 BC to 154 BC, but this event was moved to 1 January in 153 BC. In 45 BC, Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

Julian calendar

The Julian calendar, a reform of the Roman calendar, was introduced by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, and came into force in 45 BC . It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year, known at least since Hipparchus....
, which continued to use 1 January as the first day of the new year.

In the Middle Ages

Middle Ages

File:Karl 1 mit papst gelasius gregor1 sacramentar v karl d kahlen.jpgThe Middle Ages of European history are a period in history which lasted for roughly a millennium, commonly dated from the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century to the beginning of the Early Modern Period in the 16th century, marked by the division of Western Christi...
in Europe

Europe

Europe is, conventionally, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally divided from Asia to its east by the water divide of the Ural Mountains, the Ural , the Caspian Sea, and by the Caucasus Mountains to the southeast....
a number of significant feast days in the ecclesiastical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church

Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population....
came to be used as the beginning of the Julian year:

In Christmas Style dating the new year started on 25 December. This was used in Germany
Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....
and England
England

native_name =|conventional_long_name = England|common_name = England|image_flag = Flag of England.svg|image_coat = England COA.svg|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms...
until the thirteenth century, and in Spain
Spain

Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....
from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century.

In Annunciation Style dating the new year started on 25 March, the feast of the Annunciation
Annunciation

In Christianity, the Annunciation is the revelation to Mary, the mother of Jesus, by the angel Gabriel that she would Conception a child to be born the Son of God....
. This was used in many parts of Europe in the Middle Ages, and was the style introduced by Dionysius Exiguus
Dionysius Exiguus

Dionysius Exiguus was a sixth century monk born in Scythia Minor, in what is now the territory of Dobruja, Romania, and a member of the so called "Scythian monks" community....
in AD 525. Annunciation Style continued to be used officially in the Kingdom of Great Britain
Kingdom of Great Britain

The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a country in North-West Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801....
until 1 January 1752, except Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
which changed to Circumcision Style dating on 1 January 1600. The rest of Great Britain changed to Circumcision Style on the 1 January preceding the conversion in Great Britain from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar on 3/14 September 1752. The UK tax year still starts on 6 April which is 25 March + 12 days, eleven for the conversion from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar plus a dropped leap day in 1900.

In Easter Style dating, the new year started on Easter
Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
Saturday (or sometimes on Good Friday
Good Friday

Good Friday, also called Holy Friday, Great Friday or Black Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday . It commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Golgotha....
). This was used in France
France

France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....
from the eleventh to the sixteenth century. A disadvantage of this system was that because Easter was a movable feast the same date could occur twice in a year; the two occurrences were distinguished as "before Easter" and "after Easter".

In Circumcision Style dating, the new year started on 1 January, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ.

Adoption of 1 January

It took quite a long time before 1 January again became the universal or standard start of the civil year. The years of adoption of 1 January as the new year are as follows -

Country	Start year
Venice Venice Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital city of the Italian regions Veneto, a population of 271,251 . Together with Padua, Italy, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area ....	1522
Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic countries on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden has land borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, and it is connected to Denmark by the ?resund Bridge in the south....	1529
Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Empire The Holy Roman Empire was a union of territories in Central Europe during the Middle Ages and the Early modern Europe under a Holy Roman Emperor.... (Germany)	1544
Spain Spain Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably.... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic , is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Located in southwestern Europe, Portugal is the westernmost country of mainland Europe and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and south and by Spain to the north and east....	1556
Prussia Prussia Prussia was, most recently, a historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. This state had for centuries substantial influence on Germany and European history.... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in northern Europe and the senior member of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries.... and Norway Norway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a constitutional monarchy in Northern Europe that occupies the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula....	1559
France France France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France....	1564
Southern Netherlands Southern Netherlands The Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and captured by France . This region comprised most of modern Belgium and Luxembourg as well as, until 1678, most of the present Nord-Pas-de-Calais region in northern France....	1576
Lorraine Lorraine (province) Lorraine is a historical area in present-day northeast France. Some of the main cities are Metz, France, Nancy and Verdun....	1579
Dutch Republic Dutch Republic The Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was a European republic between 1581 and 1795, in about the same location as the modern Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is the successor state....	1583
Scotland Scotland conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba\|common_name= Scotland\|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg\|flag_width = 130px...	1600
Russia Russia Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....	1700
Tuscany Tuscany Tuscany is a region in Italy. It has an area of and a population of about 3.6 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence.Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy....	1721
Britain Kingdom of Great Britain The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a country in North-West Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801.... and British Empire British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, and other Dependent territory ruled or administered by the United Kingdom , that had originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.... except Scotland	1752
Thailand Thai solar calendar The Thai solar calendar, Suriyakati , has been the official and prevalent calendar in Thailand since it was adopted by King Chulalongkorn in 1888, although the Western calendar year is sometimes used in business, and quite often in banking....	1941

1 March was the first day of the numbered year in the Republic of Venice

Republic of Venice

The Most Serene Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice . It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century AD until the year 1797....
until its destruction in 1797, and in Russia

Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
from 988 until 1492 (AM 7000). 1 September was used in Russia

Russia

Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....
from 1492 until the adoption of the Christian era

Anno Domini

, abbreviated as 'AD' or 'A.D.', and 'Before Christ', abbreviated as 'BC' or 'B.C.', are designations used to number years in the Julian calendar and Gregorian calendars....
in 1700 via a December 1699 decree of Tsar Peter I

Peter I of Russia

Peter I the Great or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov ruled Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his weak and sickly half-brother, Ivan V of Russia....
(previously, Russia had counted years since the creation of the world—Anno Mundi

Anno Mundi

File:Rotunda Yard Thessaloniki 05 Jew Tomb remains.JPG abbreviated as 'AM' or 'A.M.', refers to a Calendar era counting from the Bible Creation according to Genesis of the world....
).

Autumnal equinox day (usually 22 September) was "New Year's Day" in the French Republican Calendar

French Republican Calendar

The French Republican Calendar or French Revolutionary Calendar was a calendar proposed during the French Revolution, and used by the French government for about 12 years from late 1793 to 1805, and for 18 days in 1871 in Paris....
, which was in use from 1793 to 1805. This was primidi Vendémiaire, the first day of the first month.

Time zones

Because of the division of the globe into time zone

Time zone

A time zone is a region of the earth that has uniform standard time, usually referred to as the local time. By convention, time zones compute their local time as an offset from Coordinated Universal Time ....
s, the new year moves progressively around the globe as the start of the day ushers in the New Year. The first time zone to usher in the New Year is just west of the International Date Line

International Date Line

The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the surface of the Earth opposite the Prime Meridian where the date changes as one travels east or west across it....
. At that time the time zone to the east of the Date Line is 23 hours behind, still in the previous day. The central Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portugal explorer Ferdinand Magellan....
island nation of Kiribati

Kiribati

Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. It is composed of List of islands belonging to Kiribati and one Tectonic uplift island, dispersed over 3,500,000 square kilometres, straddling the equator, and bordering the International Date Line to the east....
claims that its easternmost landmass, uninhabited Caroline Island

Caroline Island

Caroline Island or Caroline Atoll , is the easternmost of the uninhabited coral atolls which comprise the southern Line Islands in the central Pacific Ocean....
, is the first to usher in the New Year.

New Year

Western new year

Modern new year celebrations

January

March

April

Northern fall

Variable

Christian liturgical year

Historical Christian new year dates

Adoption of 1 January

Time zones

See also