When Did the Celebration of the Gregorian New Year Begin?

Many people are curious to know the answer to the important question: why is the Gregorian New Year celebrated? As the current year 2024 comes to an end, some people are preparing to welcome 2024 with New Year celebrations held across the globe. Social media platforms are flooded with posts and pictures of New Year’s Eve and Christmas festivities. But what is the reason behind this celebration?

The celebration of the Gregorian New Year began approximately 4,000 years ago in the ancient city of Babylon. However, their celebrations were held in late March to mark the first new moon following the spring equinox. At that time, the equal distribution of sunlight and darkness signified the beginning of a new year, which they saw as a reason for celebration.

Later, Emperor Julius Caesar intervened to correct the Roman calendar, which consisted of only ten months. He added the months of January and February to align the calendar with the solar year. Since then, January 1 has been celebrated as the start of a new year, dedicated to honoring the Roman god Janus, considered the god of beginnings in their belief system.

The traditions associated with New Year’s celebrations included offering sacrifices to Janus, decorating homes with laurel branches, hosting loud and festive gatherings, and exchanging gifts. These customs continued in Europe through the Middle Ages.

However, when Christianity spread, Christians replaced these celebrations with a more significant religious occasion, linking it to December 25, which they marked as the birth of Jesus Christ in their tradition.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reinstated January 1 as the official New Year’s Day, and since then, the Gregorian calendar has marked the beginning of the year on this date.