When Does the New Year Really Begin? A Historical Perspective

We often take for granted that the New Year begins on January 1, but history reveals a far more complicated story. In fact, what we now see as a universal date was not adopted everywhere at the same time—and not without some confusion and controversy along the way.

A New Year in March

In 1750, as winter gave way to spring in England, Ireland, and the American colonies, people prepared to celebrate the start of the year on March 25, a tradition that had been in place for centuries. This date marked the Feast of the Annunciation, or Lady Day, and the beginning of the legal and financial year in the British Empire.

As the year 1751 began, few could have imagined the seismic calendar shift just months away.

Losing 11 Days

By September 1751, the British Parliament’s Calendar (New Style) Act was about to take full effect, aligning England and its territories with the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Under the old Julian calendar, the year had drifted out of sync with the solar year. By the 18th century, the discrepancy had grown to 11 days. To correct this, the Act decreed that September 2, 1752, would be followed by September 14, 1752—a jarring adjustment for British subjects.

The Act also declared January 1 as the official start of the year, moving New Year’s celebrations from March to the middle of winter. The reasoning? The name of the month comes from Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, making it a fitting symbolic start.

A Nine-Month Year

The first year to adopt the new calendar didn’t follow the usual 12-month pattern. Because the transition began in September 1752, that year lasted only nine months, from March to December. For many, the abbreviated year likely added to the disorientation of losing nearly two weeks in September.

Reflecting on Time

So, as we welcome 2024, it’s worth reflecting on how timekeeping has evolved. If the year feels like it’s flying by, take comfort in the fact that at least you’re getting the full 12 months—a luxury denied to our 18th-century predecessors.

Happy New Year, whenever you celebrate it!