New Year's Day

New Year's Day History

New Year's Day represents a fresh start and the beginning of a new year, and it is celebrated worldwide. It is marked by resolutions aiming towards self-improvement and setting new goals, celebrating the transition with joy and optimism. In addition to inviting personal introspection and planning, New Year's Day is also a time to refresh connections with loved ones. The day is commonly observed with merriment and social gatherings, accompanying ceremonies, and traditions that vary internationally.

The history of New Year's Day is deeply rooted in the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which deemed January 1st as the beginning of the new year. Canada, being part of the British Empire, adopted the calendar when Britain did in 1751. Today, Canadians embrace New Year's Day with particular enthusiasm. It serves as an occasion in Canada to welcome the new year amid cold winter landscapes, reflecting the shared resilience and hope. This day also holds cultural significance for various communities within the country, embodying renewal and rebirth from cultural perspectives, such as in Quebecois and Indigenous narratives.

In Canada, New Year's Day traditions include spending quality time with family and watching the year's first sunrise. Many also enjoy outdoor recreational activities such as ice skating and snowboarding, embarking on a winter walk, or participating in organized sports events. Some Canadian cities host fireworks displays and countdown events in public spaces, albeit these have been tempered recently due to health protocols. New Year's Day in Canada falls on January 1st, similarly to most of the world, reinforcing the universality of this celebration as a simultaneous global observance.

Facts about New Year's Day

• Worldwide Baby New Year is the most common symbol associated with this holiday. He is a toddler dressed in a diaper, hat, and sash bearing the numbers of the new year. The myth states that he matures into an old man during the course of the year. On December 31st, he hands his hat and sash to the new Baby New Year.
• In the early Roman calendar, New Year was celebrated on March 1st. The new celebration of New Year on January 1st started in Rome in 153 BC. The New Year was moved to January because it was a month when two newly elected Roman consuls began their tenure, which reflected the beginning of civil year.
• In early colonial times, European settlers in Canada would mark the New Year by clearing new land, hosting dinner parties, socializing and making resolutions.
• The Scottish residents were among the first to bring in traditional New Year customs into Canada, such as Hogmanay (the Scots word for the last day of the year) which often involves visiting friends and family after midnight to celebrate.

In the News and Trending in Canada for New Year's Day

Top things to do in Canada for New Year's Day

• Make new resolutions for the upcoming year and let go of what happened in the previous one.
• Plunge into icy water at the annual Polar Bear Dip to celebrate the start of a refreshing new year.
• Prepare a feast for friends and family which is traditionally known as Le Réveillon.