Holidays and observances
Holidays and observances on January 1
14 holidays and special days are celebrated on January 1 around the world.
- 14observances
- 121events
Holidays and observances
Christian feast day:
Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church)Basil of Caesarea, also called Saint Basil the Great, was an early Christian prelate. He served as Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia from 370 until his death in 379. He was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Creed and opposed heresies wit
Christian feast day:
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church)The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is a feast of the liturgical year celebrated by Christians on varying dates.
Christian feast day:
Fulgentius of RuspeFabius Claudius Gordianus Fulgentius, also known as Fulgentius of Ruspe, was a North African Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Ruspe in what is now Tunisia, during the 5th and 6th century. He is venerated as a saint.
Christian feast day:
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; and its related observances:
World Day of PeaceThe World Day of Peace is an annual celebration by the Catholic Church, dedicated to universal peace, held on 1 January, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Pope Paul VI established it in 1967, being inspired by the encyclical Pacem in Terris of Pope John XX
Christian feast day:
January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics)January 1 in Eastern Orthodox liturgical calendars is a feast day and a day of commemoration of saints and martyrs. Although some Orthodox churches use the Revised Julian Calendar and others use the traditional Julian calendar, the fixed commemorations for the
The last day of Kwanzaa (African Americans)Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga based on Karenga's research of African harvest festi
The eighth of the Twelve Days of Christmas (Western Christianity)The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Twelve Days of Christmastide, is the festive Christian season celebrating the Nativity of Jesus. In Western Christianity it begins with Christmas Day and includes Saint Stephen's Day, the Feast of Saint John the Apostle, Childe- Global Family Day Global Family Day One Day of Peace and Sharing, is celebrated every January 1 in the United States as a global day of peace and sharing. Global Family Day grew out of the United Nations Millennium celebration, "One Day In Peace".
- Jump-up Day (Montserrat)Jump-up Day is a holiday celebrated on January 1 in Montserrat. It commemorates the emancipation of the slaves of Montserrat, and is the last day of Carnival on the island. Jump-up Day incorporates steelbands and masquerades, as well as male dancers chosen for
New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar)
Japanese New YearThe Japanese New Year is an annual festival that takes place in Japan. Since 1873, the official Japanese New Year has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar, on January 1 of each year, New Year's Day .
New Year's Day (Gregorian calendar)
Novy God Day (Russia)Novy God is a New Year holiday observed primarily in Russia and other post-Soviet states.
Polar Bear Swim DayA polar bear plunge is an event held during the winter where participants enter a body of water despite the low temperature. In the United States, polar bear plunges are usually held to raise money for a charitable organization. In Canada, polar bear swims are
Public Domain Day (multiple countries)Public Domain Day (PDD) is an observance of when copyrights expire and works enter into the public domain. This legal transition of copyright works into the public domain usually happens every year on January 1 based on the individual copyright laws of each co
Triumph of the Revolution (Cuba)The Triumph of the Revolution is the historical term for the flight of Fulgencio Batista on January 1, 1959, and the capture of Havana by the 26 July Movement on January 8.
Frequently asked questions
What is celebrated on January 1?
14 observances are celebrated on January 1 around the world: Christian feast day: Basil the Great (Eastern Orthodox Church), Christian feast day: Feast of the Circumcision of Christ Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (Anglican Communion, Lutheran Church), Christian feast day: Fulgentius of Ruspe, Christian feast day: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God; and its related observances: World Day of Peace, Christian feast day: January 1 (Eastern Orthodox liturgics), The last day of Kwanzaa (African Americans). The list gathers national holidays, international days and religious or civil observances falling on this date in different countries, as recorded on Wikipedia. Some are fixed and recur on the same day every year; others depend on the local calendar. Each links to the article explaining its origin and meaning.
What happened on January 1?
121 documented historical events happened on January 1, from antiquity to the present day. The best known is this: Galla Placidia was forced by her brother Honorius into marriage with Constantius III, his magister militum. On the same day, in another year: Having been pardoned by Eudokia Makrembolitissa, the regent of the Byzantine Empire, for attempting to usurp the throne, Romanos IV Diogenes married her to become Byzantine emperor. On Almanaccolo every event is listed in chronological order, grouped by century, and links to the Wikipedia article it comes from, so you can always read further or check the source. Alongside the events you find who was born and who died on this date, and which observances are celebrated around the world.
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