New Year’s Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about New Year’s Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. New Year’s Day is observed on January 1st.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of New Year’s Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as captivating facts you might want to know about New Year’s Day.

📅 What day is New Year’s Day 2024?

In 2024, New Year’s Day is on Sunday, January 1st. It is the 1st Sunday in January; in 2024, it is Monday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the cool details and facts about January 1, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

New Year’s Day is in:

New Year’s Day, which falls on January 1, is a significant day filled with hope, readiness, and a strong resolve to make positive changes. It symbolizes an opportunity to finally implement the adjustments we have been aspiring to make, such as prioritizing rest, adopting healthier eating habits, engaging in regular exercise, or even exploring a new career path. New Year’s Day serves as a moment to pause and prepare ourselves for the upcoming journey ahead. Wishing you a joyful start to the new year!

📜 New Year’s Day History

The lunar calendar was widely utilized by various civilizations throughout history. Around 4,000 years ago, ancient cultures such as the Mesopotamians and Babylonians celebrated the new year based on the phases of the moon and the vernal equinox, which occurs when daylight and darkness are equal.

The Babylonians observed the spring equinox through Akitu, an 11-day religious festival. Meanwhile, the Egyptians marked the new year with the flooding of the Nile and the appearance of the star Sirius. The Chinese New Year continues to be celebrated based on the second new moon following the winter solstice.

The shift from the lunar calendar to the modern Gregorian calendar can be traced back to the early Roman calendar created by Romulus, one of the founders of Rome along with his brother Remus. This original Roman calendar had 10 months and 304 days, starting on the spring equinox, namely January and February.

Many historians credit the Roman emperor Julius Caesar for introducing the Julian calendar, which designated January 1 as the beginning of the new year. Later, in 1582, Pope Gregory XIII devised the Gregorian calendar, which is still widely used today. This calendar was designed to align with the Earth’s orbit around the sun, rather than the moon, and accurately represents a year of 365 days.

New Year’s Day Facts

🔖 Hangover food saves many on New Year’s Day
Instead of cooking a big meal for lunch on New Year’s Day, approximately 28% of people in the United States choose to eat at a restaurant for their hangover meal.

🔖 New year, new babies!
On January 1st, more than 8,000 newborn babies came into the world.

🔖 726 miles traveled
AAA reported that Americans traveled a total of 726 miles on New Year’s Day in 2012.

👍 Why Is New Year’s Day Important

Everything is new in the new year! The Christmas season is over, and you have a full new year ahead of you for travel, connection, learning, and adventure. What can you do this year to make yourself unrecognizable a year from now? Go ahead and think big this year!

Sure, you enjoy a glass of wine every now and again, but every day? Those of you who have fantastic habits, such as being vegetarian or low-carb and going to the gym, are idolized nowadays. How are you going to assist your friends and family in staying healthy?

You may have slept in today, but you have done a lot in the previous year and most likely deserved the rest! New Year’s Day is a day to congratulate yourself on all you’ve accomplished and are about to do.

🙂 How To Observe New Year’s Day

Clean out your closet

One word: brunch
Indulge in the celebration by enjoying a delightful combination of champagne, fluffy pancakes, and a robust cup of coffee. Treat yourself to a luxurious crab cake benedict and kickstart the new year with a scrumptious lunch.

Share resolutions, intentions, or goals with loved ones
Remove the old clothing, saggy trousers, and unwearable shoes. Play some fantastic music. Invite your pals. Begin the new year by making room in your closet and mind for exciting new experiences.

📅 When is New Year’s Day?

YEAR DATE DAY
2024 January 1 Monday
2025 January 1 Wednesday
2026 January 1 Thursday
2027 January 1 Friday
2028 January 1 Saturday

See all 🔗 January holidays, including 🔗 Federal and other 🔗 Activities holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about New Year’s Day. So be sure to check back soon.

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