New Year's Day in United States
Quick Facts
New Year's Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar, which is the most widely used calendar system.Name
New Year's DayNew Year's Day 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008New Year's Day 2009
Thursday, January 1, 2009See list of observations below
New Year's Day falls on January 1 and marks the start of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar. For many people, it marks the end of a period of celebration and remembrance at the end of the previous year. The start of New Year's Day is often heralded by parties, concerts and fireworks during the night between New Year's Eve, on December 31, and New Year's Day.
New Year's Day marks the start of a new year. ©iStockphoto.com/Adam Korzekwa
What do people do?
The start of New Year's Day, at midnight, is heralded by fireworks, parties and special events, which are often televised. Very few people have to work on the day itself. For many it is a day of recovery from the New Year's Eve celebrations the previous night. In some towns and cities, parades are held and special football games are played. The birth of the first baby in the New Year is often celebrated with gifts to his or her parents and appearances in local newspapers and on local news shows. Many people make New Year's resolutions. These are usually promises to themselves that they will improve something in their own lives. Common New Year's resolutions are to stop smoking or drinking alcohol, to lose weight, exercise more or to live a healthier lifestyle.Public life
Government offices, organizations, businesses and schools are closed, almost without exception. Public transit systems do not run on their regular schedules. Where large public celebrations have been held, traffic may be disrupted by the clean-up operation. In general, public life is completely closed down.Background
The most widely used calendar in the world is the Gregorian calendar. This was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. The Julian calendar that had been in use until then was slightly inaccurate, causing the vernal equinox to move backwards in the calendar year. The Gregorian calendar was not accepted everywhere and some churches, particularly with origins in Eastern Europe, still use other calendars. According to the Gregorian calendar, the first day of the year is January 1.Symbols
A common symbol of New Year's Day is Baby New Year. This is often a white male baby dressed in a diaper, a hat and a sash. The year he represents is printed on his sash. He rarely a newborn baby, as most pictures show him sitting up or even standing alone. According to mythology, Baby New Year grows up and ages in a single year. At the end of the year he is an old man and hands his role over to the next Baby New Year. Other symbols of New Year's Day are spectacular fireworks exploding over landmarks and clocks striking midnight as the year begins.New Year's Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | Jan 1 | 1980 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 1981 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Jan 1 | 1982 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 31 | 1982 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Sat | Jan 1 | 1983 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Sun | Jan 1 | 1984 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 2 | 1984 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Tue | Jan 1 | 1985 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Wed | Jan 1 | 1986 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 1987 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Jan 1 | 1988 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Sun | Jan 1 | 1989 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 2 | 1989 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 1 | 1990 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Tue | Jan 1 | 1991 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Wed | Jan 1 | 1992 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Jan 1 | 1993 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 31 | 1993 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Sat | Jan 1 | 1994 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Sun | Jan 1 | 1995 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 2 | 1995 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 1 | 1996 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Wed | Jan 1 | 1997 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 1998 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Jan 1 | 1999 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 31 | 1999 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Sat | Jan 1 | 2000 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 1 | 2001 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Tue | Jan 1 | 2002 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Wed | Jan 1 | 2003 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 2004 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 31 | 2004 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Sat | Jan 1 | 2005 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Sun | Jan 1 | 2006 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 2 | 2006 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 1 | 2007 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Tue | Jan 1 | 2008 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 2009 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Jan 1 | 2010 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Fri | Dec 31 | 2010 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Sat | Jan 1 | 2011 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Sun | Jan 1 | 2012 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Mon | Jan 2 | 2012 | New Year's Day observed | National holiday | |
| Tue | Jan 1 | 2013 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Wed | Jan 1 | 2014 | New Year's Day | National holiday | |
| Thu | Jan 1 | 2015 | New Year's Day | National holiday |
Other holidays in January 2008 in United States
- Orthodox Christmas Day (Monday, January 7, 2008)
- Muharram/New Year (Thursday, January 10, 2008)
- Stephen Forster Memorial Day (Sunday, January 13, 2008)
- Orthodox New Year (Monday, January 14, 2008)
- Lee Jackson Day (Friday, January 18, 2008)
- Confederate Heroes Day (Saturday, January 19, 2008)
- Inauguration Day (Sunday, January 20, 2008)
- Idaho Human Rights Day (Monday, January 21, 2008)
- Martin Luther King Day (Monday, January 21, 2008)
- New Hampshire Civil Rights Day (Monday, January 21, 2008)
- Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) (Tuesday, January 22, 2008)
- Kansas Day (Tuesday, January 29, 2008)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
