New Years Around the World

Celebrating New Year on January 1 is a relatively new trend. New Year’s Day, a civil event and a date not fixed by any natural seasonal marker, was first celebrated by the Romans. They picked this date to honor their god Janus, the god of all beginnings. A double-faced head represented Janus with one face looking toward the future and the other to the past. Naturally, the month of January was named after him and in 45 BC New Year’s Day was celebrated on January 1 for the first time on the Julian calendar.

Though a celebration of a new year goes back to the roots of humanity, other cultures have fixed different dates to celebrate their new year. Here are four such events.

The Chinese New Year will be celebrated in 2019 on February 5 beginning the Year of the Pig. Since the date of the Chinese New Year varies within a month, it is linked to the new moon and it always follows the second new moon after the winter solstice.

The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, occurs usually in September and is a two-day holiday beginning on the first day of Tishre, the first month of the Jewish calendar. Jews believe Rosh Hashanah is the anniversary of creation. In 2019 Rosh Hashanah will begin on the evening of September 29.

The Hindi people of India celebrate Diwali in October marking the last harvest of the year. On Diwali eve, while children sleep, Lakshmi, a magical being like Santa Claus, visits homes leaving presents and sweets for children to find when they awaken. This year it will be celebrated on October 27, 2019.

In Iran and other parts of the Middle East the New Year is called Nowruz. It is celebrated on the first day of spring and lasts 13 days. Most peoples connected to the Persian culture will enjoy the festivities of this New Year celebration beginning March 21, 2019.

No matter if you celebrate New Years on January 1 like the Romans or in March like the Persians it is a day of symbolism—rebirth, renewed opportunities, and new beginnings.

Happy New Year,

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