Celebrate New Year's Day
Every Month of the Year!

Why celebrate New Year's only once a year? It’s possible to celebrate New Year's every month of the year (118 New Year's Days each year!). Celebrate Sekhmet in January, Chinese New Year in January or February, Noruz in March, Baisakhi in April, Buddhist New Year in May, Runic New Year in June, Armenian New Year in July, Shenshai New Year in August, Rosh Hashanah in September, Samhain in October, Dipavali in November (normally), and Papal States New Year in December.

Nothing requires we celebrate the new year only once a year. Indeed, before 1752, Americans celebrated New Year's Day on March 25th (Lady Day according to the old Celtic religion and the Feast of the Annunciation according to the Christian religion). Great Britain and its colonies changed their New Year's celebrations to January 1st when they changed from the old Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1751.

January 2008

1 — New Year’s Day — The world's most widely celebrated holiday, New Years was set on January 1 by Julius Caesar because that was the date the Roman consuls took over their duties.

22 — Mahayana Buddhist New Year — In Mahayana Buddhist countries, the new year starts on the first full moon day in January. Web: http://www.buddhanet.net/festival.htm.

22 — Tu B'Shevat (New Year of Trees) — The Jewish Arbor Day or New Year of Trees (one of four Mishnaic new year's feasts) was originally the time to set the tithe for fruit trees. It now allows us to show respect to trees and other plants, celebrate our connection to the environment, and appreciate the fruits of the land. It is celebrated on the 15th day of Shevat in the Hebrew calendar (although it was once set for the 1st of Shevat). Plant a tree or eat a piece of fruit on this day.

28 — Traditional Scottish New Year — Many Scots traditionally celebrated the new year at the beginning of the Runic half month of Elhaz (which runs from January 28 to February 11). This month signifies sanctuary, protection, optimistic power.

February 2008

1 — Bombadier New Years Day — The Canadian aviation company Bombadier begins its new fiscal year on February 1st.

1 — Dell New Years Day — Dell Computers begins its new fiscal year on February 1st.

1 — Federal Elections New Years Day — The year-end reporting deadline for the Federal Election Commission is January 31st. That makes February 1st the beginning of the new year for federal elections.

1 — Old Irish New Years Day — Some Celtics in Ireland celebrated the new year during the festival of Imbolc, also known as the Festival of Lights. It was a festival celebrating the reawakening of the earth.

1 — Retailers New Years Day — Many retailers begin their fiscal new year on February 1st, including Staples, Toys ‘R’ Us, Gap, Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Home Depot, Target, Albertson's, J.C. Penney, Kmart, Wal-Mart, and Lowe's.

3 — Setsubun (Bean Throwing Festival) — According to the Japanese lunar/solar calendar, this festival marks the last day of winter. As such, it is often referred to as New Year's Eve (even though it rarely coincides with the Lunar New Year since it is officially held on the day before the Japanese spring). People crowd the temples to throw beans to drive away imaginary devils, shouting “Fortune in, devils out!” Web: http://www2.gol.com/users/stever/setsubun.htm.

7 — Chinese New Year (Sun Nin) — The Chinese New Year of 4705 (in 2008) is celebrated at sunset on the day of the new moon in the sign of Aquarius. 2008 is the year of the rat.

7 — Korean New Year (Sol-Nal) — The Lunar New Year is celebrated at sunset on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice. The Koreans celebrate this new year day as Sol-Nal, the most important of their annual holidays.

7 — Lunar New Year — The Lunar New Year is celebrated at sunset on the day of the new moon of the second new moon after the winter solstice.

7 — Tibetan New Year (Losar) — Losar, the Tibetan New Year, is held at the same time as the Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year. Note: Some Tibetans celebrate their New Year a month later as Ugyen Thinley Dorje. The Karmapa Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, led prayers to mark the new year.

7 — Vietnamese New Year (Tet) — On the day of the lunar new year, the Vietnamese people celebrate the most important holiday of their year. They believe that what happens during the coming year is established by what happens during the first three days of the year.

21 — Aeon Fiscal New Year — The Japanese company Aeon begins its new fiscal year on February 21st.

March 2008

1 — Best Buy New Years Day — Best Buy, the electronics retailer, begins its fiscal new year on March 1st.  It's also the fiscal new year for Supervalue, RiteAid, and Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea.

1 — NFL Calendar New Year — The beginning of the fiscal year for the National Football League is June 1st. Their calendar year starts on March 1st.

1 — Old Roman New Year — The Festival of Mars, aka Feriae Marti, honored Mars, the Roman god of war. It was also the New Year's Day in the old Roman calendar.

1 — Venice New Year Day — During the Middle Ages, March 1st was the New Year's Day celebrated by Venice.

7 — Tibetan New Year (Ugyen Thinley Dorje) — Some Tibetans celebrate their New Year a month later than the Lunar New Year as Ugyen Thinley Dorje. The Karmapa Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, led prayers to mark the new year.

8 — Sun Rise Day — The world's most northerly village, Longyearbyen, Norway celebrates the first dawn of the new year (their New Year's Day). Around noon on this day, they celebrate their first glimpse of the sun since it sat in October. The long night of winter is compensated by the midnight sun of summer.

14 — Sikh New Year Day — The year 2008 is the year 540 in the Sikh Nanakshahi Calendar. It is the first day of Chet, the first month of the Sikh calendar.

21 — Astrological New Year — The astrological year begins with the first day of the sign of Aries.

21 — Baha’i New Year (Naw-Ruz) — The Baha'i new year is always celebrated on the 21st. This new year is also known as the Day of God. 2008 is year 164 in the Baha'i religion.

21 — Old Russian New Year — From 1500 to 1725, some parts of Russia celebrated the new year on the Vernal Equinox.

21 — Persian New Year (Noruz) — The Persian or Iranian New Year is a national holiday in Iran and some other Middle East countries. Always held on the spring equinox, 2008 is the year 1387 in the Persian calendar.

21 — Zoroastrian New Year (Jamshedi) — The Zoroastrian New Year (Jamshedi) is always on March 21st. The year 2008 is the year 1378 in the Fasli calendar. This day was named after the legendary King of Persia, Jamshed who started the Parsi Calendar.

22 — Saka New Year — Also known as the Hindu Dharma New Year. The official calendar of the country of India celebrates its new year (2065 in 2008). Also known as the Maharashtrian New Year.

25 — Old British New Year — Before the Calendar Adjustment Act of 1751, Great Britain and its U.S. colonies celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25 because it is Lady Day as well as the Feast of the Annunciation.

April 2008

1 — Old French New Years Day — Before the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar (and January 1st as New Year's Day) in 1564, France celebrated March 25th as New Year's Day and continued to celebrate for a full week. Since many people continued to celebrate the New Year's festival on April 1st, they became objects of local jokes -- April fools. This day is now celebrated as a time for jokes, pranks, and making fools of others or yourself. Also known as All Fool's Day, April Noddy Day, Gowkie Day, and Gowkin' Day (Scottish for cuckoo).

1 — Japanese Industrial New Year — Many Japanese industrial corporations begin their new fiscal year on April 1st, including Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mitsui, Sony, Matsushita, Nissan, Toshiba, Isuzu, and Seiko Epson.

1 — Safeway New Year — Safeway begins its new fiscal year on April 1st. Don't fool with your food!

3 — Seleucid Era New Year Day — In 311 B.C., the Seleucid Era began. Also, on this date in 245 B.C., the Era of Arsaces started.

4 — New Year for Kings — In Mishnaic times, the first of Nissan (the first month of the Hebrew calendar) was celebrated as the New Year for Kings and festivals. The Mishna also celebrated three other New Years's: Elul 1 (for animal tithes), Tishrei 1 (for vegetable tithes), and Tu B'Shevat (for tree tithes).

5 — God's Holyday New Year — According to some Christians, the true New Year's Day should be celebrated on the first new moon after the vernal equinox (first day of spring).

5 — Telugu New Year’s Day — Also known as Ugadi, this day is celebrated on the day after the new moon following the vernal equinox (first day of spring). It is the day Krishna gave up his mortal body in a sacred place of pilgrimage called Prabahatsa, near Dvaraka. Ugadi falls on Chaitra Sudhdha Paadyami or the first day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra.

6 — Hindu New Year — The Hindu New Year is on the day following the new moon on or after the spring equinox. Year 2008 is the year 2065 in this Hindu calendar. Also known as Bikrami Samvat. Note: Some people celebrate the Hindu New Year on Diwali.

6 — United Kingdom New Tax Year — The tax year begins on April 6th in the United Kingdom.

10 — Kashmiri New Lunar Year — Also known as Navreh.

14 — Solar New Year (Songkran) — This new year's day is celebrated in many southeast Asia countries as Baisakhi in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka (or Varushapirapu); Songkran in Thailand; Boum Pimay or Bun-Pi-Mai-Lao in Laos; Thingyan in Myanmar; and Bon Chol Chhnam in Cambodia. The exact time on the 13th or 14th is determined by astrologers. This day marks the celestial passage of Pisces into Aries, when Thagyamin, king of the celestials, visits the human world to judge each person's actions during the past year. This water festival is celebrated by spraying water on passer-bys and friends.

14 — Nepali New Year Day — The year 2008 is the year 2065 in the Nepali Bikram Sambat calendar. Also known as Baisakh 1 or Bisket Jatra.

14 — Sikh New Year Day (Vaisaki) — The year 2008 is the year 310 in the Sikh calendar. On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Brotherhood of the Pure.

14 — Sinhala/Tamil New Year’s Day — Sri Lankans celebrate their national new year's day (Puththandu in Tamil and Aluth Avurudhu in Sinhala). The specific time of the new year is set by astrologers on the 13th or 14th. The sun moving from the house of Pisces to the house of Aries signals the dawn of the new year.

15 — Assamese New Year Day — Also known as Bohag Bihu. This new year day is celebrated in many northern Indian states.

20 — Stoner's New Year — 420 is another name for marijuana. According to some legends, marijuana is supposed to have 420 different chemicals, plus the Los Angeles, California police department's code for a drug bust is supposed to be 420. However, according to Snopes.com, 420 began as slang in 1971 among a group of high school kids in San Rafael, California. This day is also known as Weed Smokers Day; Marijuana Vacation Day, or National Stoner's Day. Some drug users take a vacation on this date. If you are using drugs, why not take a vacation from drugs today? It may be the first day of the rest of your life. A good life.

20 — Theravadin Buddhist New Year — The Tharavadin Buddhists of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Lao celebrate the new year on the first full moon day of April with three days of celebration. Web: http://www.buddhanet.net/festival.htm.

22 — New Year's Day for Working Women — Each year, the National Committee on Pay Equity organizes the national observance of Equal Pay Day to raise awareness about unfair pay in America. In 2008, Equal Pay Day will be observed on Tuesday, April 22. Tuesday is symbolic of the point into the new week that a woman must work in order to earn the wages paid to a man in the previous week. In other words, because women on average earn less, they must work longer for the same pay. In Hawaii, Happy New Year cards were sent out to mark New Year's Day for Working Women.

24 — Babylonian New Year — The Babylonian New Year begins the Nabonassar Era Year 2752 on April 25th (24th on leap years).

May 2008

1 — Jeffrey Shaffer's New Year's Day — In a 2004 column in the Christian Science Monitor, Jeffrey wrote that “If I were in charge of the calendar, New Year's Day would fall on May 1.”

12 — Buddhist New Year — Buddha, the enlightened one, lived in India from 563 BC to 483 BC. Some Buddhist sects celebrate his birthday on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month as their New Year’s Day. Also known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti. Note: Some sects now celebrate Buddha's birthday on April 8th.

June 2008

1 — FedEx New Year — Federal Express begins its new fiscal year on June 1st.

1 — NFL Fiscal New Year — The beginning of the fiscal year for the National Football League.

21 — Ancient Greek New Year — Some versions of the ancient Greek calendar celebrated the new year on the summer solstice.

21 — Aymara New Year's Day (Machaj Mara) — Bolivia's Aymara Indians celebrate their new year's day during the southern hemisphere's winter solstice. 2008 is year 5016 in their calendar. They call the new year Machaj Mara. Happy Machaj Mara!

21 — Neolithic New Year Day — Many neolithic cultures celebrated the new year on the first day of summer.

29 — Runic New Year — In the Wicca religion, this day marks the beginning of Feoh, the half-month of wealth and success. It is the first month of the runic year. This day is sacred to Frey and Freyja, the god and goddess of the earth.

July 2008

1 — Cake Eaters New Year — The frozen baked goods company Sara Lee begins its new fiscal year on July 1st. Enjoy a great cake today!

1 — Consumer Products New Year — The consumer products giant, Procter & Gamble, begins its new fiscal year on July 1st.

1 — Microsoft New Year — Microsoft begins its new fiscal year on July 1st.

1 — Sun's Fiscal New Year — Sun Microsystems begins its new fiscal year on July 1st.

1 — United States Fiscal New Year — 46 states of the United States of America begin their new fiscal year on July 1st of every year.

4 — Cowboy's New Year — Each year Red River, New Mexico hosts the Cowboy's New Year Rodeo on the Fourth of July. Yee-haa!

9 — Armenian New Year — The Armenian Era, an old way of measuring time, began on July 9, 552.

18 — Olympic New Year — Celebrated on the full moon following the Summer Solstice.

21 — Mayan New Year — According to one source, July 21st was the old Mayan New Year.

August 2008

1 — Cisco New Year — Cisco Systems begins its new fiscal year on August 1st.

1 — Winn-Dixie New Year — Winn-Dixie grocery stores begin their new fiscal year on August 1st.

19 — Zoroastrian New Year Day — The Zoroastrian New Year for those Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar. The older sect of Parsis celebrates the first day of the month of Farvardm as their New Year.

30 — Alexandrian New Year — The first day of the month of Thoth was the beginning of the new year in the Greco-Egyptian calendar of ancient Alexandria. As the secretary of the Egyptian gods, Thoth was the god of writing, languages, laws, annals, calculations, mathematics, scribes, and magicians. He also made the calendar.

30 — Malayalam New Year — On the new moon in late August or early September (the first day of the Hindu month of Bhadon), the southern Indian state of Kerala celebrates its new year.

31 — New Year for Animal Tithes — The Mishna sets up the first day of Elul (Hebrew calendar) as the New Year for Animal Tithes, essentially the new year for taxes. This holiday (one of four Mishnaic new years days) has not been celebrated since the Babylonian diaspora.

September 2008

1 — Costco New Year — The mass market retailer Costco begins its new fiscal year on September 1st.

1 — Druggist New Year — The drugstore chain Walgreens begins its new fiscal year on September 1st.

1 — Macedonian New Year — The ancient Macedonians celebrated the new year on September 1st.

1 — Orthodox Christian New Year — This day marks the new year for some Russian Orthodox Christians. Web: http://www.interfaithcalendar.org.

1 — Old Russian New Year — In 1699, Peter the Great ordered the Russian New Year changed from September 1 to January 1.

2 — American School New Year — Traditionally, the new school year in the U.S. begins on the day after Labor Day.

10 — African New Year — Approximately every 1,460 years Sirius, part of the Orion constellation, rises directly behind the sun. This event, which is traditionally celebrated annually on September 10th in some African countries, marks the beginning of the African new year.

11 — Ethiopian New Years Day — This is a national holiday in Ethiopia. 2008 is the year 2001 in the Ethiopian calendar. 11th most years, 12th in leap years.

12 — Coptic New Year — The Diocletian Era, an old way of measuring the years, begins on September 11th or 12th. Under this system, 2008 is actually year number 1725. This calendar measures the Coptic New Year.

14 — Byzantine New Year — The Byzantine Era year of 7517 begins on September 14, 2008.

14 — Grecian New Year (Selucidae) — The Grecian New Year (Selucidae) begins on September 14 (year 2320 in 2008).

22 — French Revolutionary New Year — In October 1793, the revolutionaries of the French Republic inaugurated a new calendar (Le Calendrier Republicain) that celebrated the new year on September 22 (the first day following the establishment of the Republic in 1792).

30 — Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) — Rosh Hashanah, which begins on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishri (Tishrei), is also called the Day of Judgment and Remembrance. It begins the Ten Days of Penitance. Originally, it was the day of the creation of man and woman. In Mishnaic times, it was the new year for years, for release, and for vegetable tithes. Rosh Hashanah 2008 begins the year 5767 in the Jewish calendar.

22 — Ancient Egyptian New Year — Some versions of the ancient Egyptian calendar celebrated the new year on the autumnal equinox.

October 2008

1 — Disney's New Year — The Walt Disney Company begins its new fiscal year on October 1st. Happy New Year Mickey, Donald, and Goofy!

1 — Siemens Fiscal New Year — Siemens and some other German companies begin their fiscal new year on October 1st.

1 — U.S. Government Fiscal New Year — The United States federal government begins its fiscal year on October 1st.

1 — Postal New Year — The United States Postal Service begins its new fiscal year on October 1st.

6 — Supreme Court New Year's Day — The U.S. Supreme Court begins its annual term on the first Monday of October.

22 — Spiritual New Year — Sponsored by Eckankar.

28 — Hindu New Year (Diwali) — Celebrated at the new moon in late October or early November, this Festival of Lights celebrates the return of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile and his defeat of the evil king Ravana (symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness). Also known as Hindu Solidarity Day, Divali, Dipavali, Deepavali, Laxmi Puja, or Mahalakshmi, it also honors Lakshmi, goddess of good fortune, wealth, and prosperity. In India, the celebration goes on for a few days before and after the new year. It is considered by some as one of the Hindu New Years (sometimes celebrated the day after Diwali as Vikram New Year).

28 — Nepal Sambat New Year — This new years day is held on the new moon after October 20th. It celebrates the day in 879 (October 20th) that merchant Samkhadhar Shakhwaa paid off the debt of the people of Nepal to provide a new beginning for the people of Nepal. 2008 is year 1128 in the Sambat calendar.

29 — Jain New Year — Celebrated on the day after Diwali, this is the new year's day for the Jain religion (year 2065 in 2008). It is the day of the attainment of Moksha by Mahavir Swami and the day when his chief disciple Gautam Swami attained Kevalgnan.

31 — Druid New Year (Samhain) — This ancient feast of Sacred Fire celebrated the Druid New Year. It celebrates the reunion of Morrighan, a Celtic goddess, with Dagda, the good god. It is also known as the Celtic Feast of the Dead, the Feast of Souls, or Calan Gaeaf. Sometimes now celebrated on November 1st.

November 2008

1 — Canadian Banks New Year — Many Canadian banks begin their new fiscal year on November 1st, including the Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and Bank of Nova Scotia.

1 — Deere New Year — The John Deere company, the farm equipment manufacturer, begins its new fiscal new year on November 1st.

1 — H-P Fiscal New Year — Hewlett-Packard begins its new fiscal year on November 1st.

30 — Liturgical New Year — The season of Advent begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends with Christmas Day. It is a preparation time before the celebration of the birth of Christ. It is also the beginning of the new liturgical year for Christians of the West.

December 2008

1 — Stockbroker's New Year — Many American financial institutions and brokerage firms begin their new fiscal year on December 1st, including Morgan Stanley, Lehman Brothers, and Goldman Sachs.

1 — Sikkimese New Year — The Sikkimese New Year or Losoong is celebrated on the 18th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. It is also called Sonam Losar or the Farmer's New Year.

21 — Irish Druidic New Year — According to at least one source, the Irish Druidic New Year begins on the winter solstice.

21 — Norse New Year — The Norse New Year begins on the winter solstice.

24 — Celtic Tree New Year — Today is the first day of the Birch Moon, the first month in the Celtic Tree Calendar.

25 — Papal States New Year — Before 1582, the Papal States and some other Italian city states celebrated New Year’s Day on Christmas Day.

29 — Islamic New Year (Muharram) — At sundown, year 1430 of the Islamic Era begins. The first day of Muharram commemorates Prophet Muhammad's flight from Mecca to Medina (the Hegira or Hijra), the first major event in the development of Islam. This date varies from year to year. Note: Because of the peculiarities of the Islamic calendar, Muharram is celebrated twice in 2008.

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