New Year's

New Year's Day History

New Year's Day, universally recognized as the first day of the year, signifies a fresh start and an opportunity for individuals to set new objectives, decisions and hopes. It is a public holiday in all European Union (EU) member states, serving as a moment for people to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and anticipate the future. This occasion fosters unity and solidarity as citizens across countries get together with family and friends, engaging in various cultural practice, festive traditions, and ceremonies.

Some historians trace the modern celebration of New Year's Day back to ancient Rome, where it was observed on the 1st of January in honor of Janus, the god of beginnings. Although its observance has varied throughout history due the use of different calendars, most countries now celebrate New Year's Day on the same date thanks to the wide adoption of the Gregorian calendar. Within the EU, it symbolizes the beginning of the fiscal and administrative year for the Union. New Year's Day also marks the rotation of the Union's Council's presidency, an influential role that rotates among EU member states every six months.

In the EU, New Year's Day is acknowledged with a plethora of festivities such as concerts, firework displays, sporting events, and traditional meals. Various traditional foods are consumed across the EU countries with a belief that they bring wealth and luck in the upcoming year. Public life is generally quiet as offices, banks, and most stores are closed. However, public transport usually runs on a reduced schedule to accommodate those who attend big events. It's important to note that in some Orthodox Christian-influenced Eastern European countries, New Year's Day may not be observed on January 1st due to the use of the Julian calendar, but rather on January 14th. In general, regardless of the exact date, New Year's Day in the EU is a time for both celebration and reflection.

Facts about New Year's

• 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 Spain, as the clock strikes midnight and ushers in the New Year, people eat 12 grapes, with each grape symbolizing good luck for each month of the coming year.
• In Germany, people drop molten lead into cold water and predict the future based on the shape it takes.

In the News and Trending in the EU for New Year's

Top things to do in the EU for New Year's

• Make new resolutions for the upcoming year and let go of what happened in the previous one.
• Watch the annual Vienna New Year’s Concert, a classical music concert performed by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
• Attend the Edinburgh Hogmanay Festival in Scotland. It is one of the largest New Year’s celebrations in the word.