What Day Is It?New Year’s Day 2027 falls on Friday, January 1, 2027. It is the first day of the Gregorian calendar year and a public holiday in most countries, including the United States and Türkiye.
Why does the year start on January 1?
Rome began using January 1 as the start of its civil year in 153 BC, and Julius Caesar’s calendar reform kept it. In medieval Europe many places started the year on other dates, such as March 25. Countries returned to January 1 over the following centuries, helped along by the Gregorian calendar introduced in 1582.
Other new years
Not everyone’s new year is in January. Lunar New Year usually falls between late January and mid-February. Nowruz is at the March equinox, and the Islamic New Year moves through the seasons each year.
How the world marks it
The party comes the night before, on New Year’s Eve. Fireworks and countdowns move west with the time zones, starting in the Pacific islands of Kiribati. Common traditions include making resolutions and eating foods for luck, like twelve grapes at midnight in Spain.
New Year’s Day dates
Frequently asked questions
Is January 1 a public holiday?
Yes, in most countries. It is a federal holiday in the United States and a public holiday in Türkiye.
Which country reaches the new year first?
Parts of Kiribati in the Pacific Ocean are among the first places to reach midnight.