New Years Day

When is New Years Day 2022?

Every year on January 1, the UK celebrates the New Year's Day. The day marks the beginning of a new year according to the Gregorian calendar. In most cases, celebrations usually kick off on the eve of the new year. However, most people are working on New Year's Eve and, therefore, only begin their celebrations at the stroke of midnight to commence the dawn of the new year.

What is open and closed on New Year's Day 2020?

New Year's Day is a bank holiday and thus a non-working day in the UK. As such, schools, banks and many offices and shops remain closed to give the public a chance to celebrate the new year with their family members. However, some supermarkets and shops remain open although their hours may slightly differ from normal. The transport system is still in operation though the scheduled timings are subject to change.

What is the history of New Year's Day?

Unknown to many, New Year's Day has not always been celebrated on January 1 in the UK. In the middle ages, the holiday was observed on March 25, and it coincided with the occasion when Mary mother of Jesus discovered that she would give birth to Jesus Christ. When the Gregorian calendar was eventually adopted in the 16th century, the date changed to what it is today.

According to the early Roman calendar, New Year was celebrated on March 1 until 153 BC when the celebration was moved to January 1. It is believed that the move was prompted by two newly elected Roman consuls who commenced their tenure, thus reflecting the start of a civil year.

However, the UK being a multicultural society, some cultures like Hindu, Coptic, Jewish, Islamic, and Chinese take a different date according to their religious calendars.

How is New Year's Day celebrated?

Without a doubt, New Year's Day is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the UK. Festivities usually begin on December 31, the New Year's Eve. In the UK, it is a tradition to mark the end of the old year and the beginning of a new year with pomp and colour.

The countdown to the new year is usually a national affair televised on huge display screens across the UK's major cities. It is a tradition for people to hold hands and sing the famous 'Auld Lang Syne' song as they count seconds to the new year. When the clock strikes midnight, people hug, kiss and wish each other best of luck Happy New Year to welcome the new year. "

Fireworks are set off in major cities to mark the beginning of a new dawn. London is the most popular city with fireworks. Thousands of people congregate at the banks of River Thames to witness the almost 12 inches fireworks display showcased on a giant Ferris wheel.

For the young generation, the New Year is marked with parties and spending the New Year Eve in a night club or bar. The older folks, however, prefer family and smaller parties indoors. A few others love toasting to the coming year with a fizzy alcoholic drink commonly referred to as champagne. Nevertheless, drinking during the New Year's Day celebrations is excused for most people of age.

Things to do on New Year's Day 2021?

The most popular way to start the new year off is by attending the New Year's Day Parade. The parade, which is a mix of traditional and modern pomp of marching bands, began in 1987 under the name Lord Mayor of Westminster's Big Parade before being renamed in 1994. Thousands of dancers, cheerleaders, novelty inflatables and acrobats come together to showcase a variety of performances to welcome the new year. You will need to buy a ticket to be offered a sitting position at various points of the routes taken by the performers during the ceremony.

If you are an outdoor person and the weather permits, take some fresh air with a leisurely hike. If your New Year resolutions revolve around fitness and better health, then this is not only a good motivation for you on the first day of the year, but the hills are also less crowded on such a holiday.

You may also opt to take a New Year's Day tour across small towns in the country and have the fun checking out how festivities go down in other places. Whether you want to take it solo, with family or your gang, you are guaranteed to have a blast.

Many stores also often offer New Year's Day offers and giveaways and there is no better time to spoil yourselves and those you love with some gifts. You may also opt to take them dining out at great New Year's Day discounts.

What are the famous New Year's Day UK traditions?

Interestingly, some parts of the UK believe in a tradition called first footing. It means that the first person to enter someone's house brings luck to them for the rest of the year. Dark-haired people are thought to be the luckiest, and as a tradition, you should carry a lump of coal if you intend to be the first footer.

Formulating New Year's resolution is also a common trend with the UK people. These resolutions are often decisions that someone has resolved to achieve in the coming year, mostly to make their lives better. However, it's not every person who manages to keep up with their resolutions.

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