The First of January was originally introduced as the beginning of the year by the Romans with the introduction of the Julian calendar by Julius Caesar in 45 BC. They dedicated the day to Janus, the god of beginnings, transitions, time and duality. He was depicted as having two faces directed in opposite directions – so in the case of the new year, one looking to the past, and the other directed to the future. The Romans also named the first month of the year after him: January.
However, until the middle of the eighteenth century not all countries celebrated the start of the year on this date. Some set it on 25th December, others on the first of March: in Britain the official new year began on 25th March – although unofficially the new year was celebrated on 1st January. This changed with the Calendar Act of 1750 when 1st January was formally adopted as the first day of the year. This date has now been adopted throughout the world – with notable exceptions, such as China – and is celebrated on the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve with fireworks and various local customs (see New Year’s Eve).
Most customs associated with 1st January involve the idea of looking forward to the coming year. It was a day when superstitions involved with luck took on extra significance, as it was believed that actions taken on this day could affect one’s fortunes in the coming year. Any mishap that occurred during the day would spell bad luck for the rest of the year, so extra care was taken with any activity.
There was also a belief that in order to keep good luck in the household nothing should leave it, even the ashes from the fire. But things could be brought in which could include gifts.
In the ancient Roman empire – and in most European countries until the eighteenth century – New Year’s Day, rather than Christmas Day, was when gifts were exchanged.
In recent years the day is often spent quietly nursing hangovers resulting from the carousing of New Year’s Eve – hence the inclusion of recipes for hangover cures!
