December 31

New Year’s Eve

Ring in the New Year with family and friends - enjoy festive feasts, decorations, and a sparkling countdown to an amazing year!

Yearly Date
December 31
Type
Day
Category
Cultural

Introduction

Ring in the New Year with excitement and joy! Celebrate New Year’s Eve on December 31 and mark the end of one year and start of a new one. For thousands of years, people all over the world have gathered to celebrate this special day. This is a time for reflection, resolutions, parties, fireworks and much more as we bid farewell to 2020 and look forward to 2021!

New Year’s Eve Timeline

45 BC
Julian Calendar Adoption
Julius Caesar, Roman dictator, introduces the Julian calendar with January 1 as the start of the year, set in accordance to a solar calendar instead of lunar.
1570
Scotland Accepts January 1
Scotland becomes one of the first countries to start celebrating New Year on January 1, reaching alignment with the widely accepted Gregorian Calendar.
1752
British Adoption of Gregorian Calendar
Britain and its colonial lands including America finally adopt the Gregorian calendar, officially recognizing January 1 as the start of the New Year.
1878
First Times Square Celebration
The first New Year's Eve celebration at Times Square in New York City takes place, starting a tradition of celebrations that persists today.
1907
Times Square Ball Drop
The first Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop takes place, becoming a signature event known worldwide.
1972
"Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve"
The first "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" is broadcasted on television, quickly becoming an annual event associated with New Year's Eve celebrations.

How to Celebrate New Year’s Eve

1

Throw a party

Gather your closest friends and family, decorate your house or apartment, make some tasty snacks, and dance the night away!

2

Go to a concert

Find out who is playing in your area on New Year's Eve and get tickets to the show! It will be a great way to celebrate with friends and hear some of your favorite tunes.

3

Take a trip

Whether you want to go somewhere close by or far away, plan a trip for New Year's Eve. It could be anything from a road trip or camping adventure to an exotic vacation.

4

Visit another city

Take advantage of the holiday season by visiting another city for the evening. Check out their downtown area or local festivities.

5

Stay in and relax

If you're looking for something low key, have a cozy night in with some hot cocoa and watch the ball drop from the comfort of your own home.

Why We Love New Year’s Eve

A

New Year's Eve is a chance to start fresh

The new year presents an opportunity for us all to reflect on the past twelve months and set goals for the future. It’s a time of renewal and a chance to make resolutions that will improve our lives in some way - be it health, work, or relationships - so we can move forward with intention.

B

It’s a chance to celebrate

What better way to kick off the new year than by having friends over and throwing a festive party? Enjoy good food, drinks, music and company while also counting down to midnight with your loved ones!

C

It’s full of possibilities

Aside from being full of fun and festivity, New Year's Eve is something else entirely: Optimism. As another year begins, we have so much potential for what's ahead, so let this special day remind you never to give up hope for achieving whatever dreams you may have.

New Year’s Eve Dates

Year
Date
Day
2023
Dec 31
Sunday
2024
Dec 31
Tuesday
2025
Dec 31
Wednesday
2026
Dec 31
Thursday
2027
Dec 31
Friday