New Year's Day

New Year's Day, first day of the new calendar year, celebrated since ancient times by many peoples, including Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Egyptians, Jews, Greeks, Romans, and Chinese. Rites were usually held on the days of the vernal or autumnal equinox or the winter or summer solstice, when there was feasting and an exchange of gifts. The Julian calendar decreed Jan. 14 as New Year's Day, but when the Gregorian calendar was ordained in the 16th century, the date was changed to Jan. 1. The Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) is in late Sept. or early Oct., at the time of the autumnal equinox. The Chinese base their New Year date on the waning and waxing of the moon, usually between the middle of Jan. and the middle of Feb. Christmas Day is now more observed as a festive holiday in many countries, but New Year's Day remains the major occasion in France, Scotland, and Italy.