New Year's Day

New Year's Day is observed on January 1st, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in the Roman Empire. Traditionally, as a date in the Gregorian Calendar of Christendom, New Year's Day liturgically marked the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ, and is still observed as such in the Anglican Church and Lutheran Church.However, with most countries now using the Gregorian calendar as their main calendar, New Year's Day is probably the world's most celebrated public holiday, often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts in each time zone.

Traditional and modern celebrations and customs

New Year's Eve

January 1 represents the fresh start of a new year after a period of remembrance of the passing year, including on radio, television and in newspapers, which starts in early December in countries around the world. Publications have year-end articles that review the changes during the previous year. In some cases publications may set their entire year work alight in hope that the smoke emitted from the flame brings new life to the company. There are also articles on planned or expected changes in the coming year.

This day is traditionally a religious feast, but since the 1900s has also become an occasion to celebrate the night of December 31, called New Year's Eve. There arefireworks at midnight at the moment the new year arrives (the major one is of Sydney, New South Wales; watchnight services are also still observed by many.

Regional celebrations

• In European countries, the New Year is greeted with private fireworks.

• On New Year's Day, people in certain countries gather on beaches and run into the water to celebrate the new year. In Canada, the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and theNetherlands this is very popular. These events are sometimes known as polar bear plunges, and are sometimes organized by groups to raise money for charity. Polar Bear Clubs in many Northern Hemisphere cities near bodies of water, have a tradition of holding organized plunges on New Year's Day.

New Year's Day

The celebrations held world-wide on January 1 as part of New Year's Day commonly include the following:

• Parades

• American football: In the United States, January 1 is the traditional date for many post-season college footballbowl games, which are usually accompanied by parades and other activities to celebrate the events

• Football: In Europe, Association Football, where a Full Fixture programme[clarification needed] is usually played throughout the Premier League and the rest of the League/Non League system in England

• Ice hockey, most famously the Winter Classic in North America, a National Hockey League game that is played outdoors

• Concerts

• Entertainment, usually enjoyed from the comfort of home

• Family time

• Traditional meals

• Church services

• An annual dip in ice-cold water by hearty individuals, most famously by members of the Polar Bear Club

Date: 2015-02-16; view: 972