About January 1

January 1, 2025 is the 1st day of the year 2025 in the Gregorian calendar. There are 364 days remaining until the end of this year. The day of the week is Wednesday.

You can browse the full year calendar in case you need it.

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Capricorn is the sun sign of a person born on this day. Garnet is the modern birthstone for this month. Emerald is the mystical birthstone from Tibetan origin that dates back over a thousand years.

According to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, there are 28 days remaining before the start of the next Chinese New Year.

January 1: More About This Day

The preceding day is December 31 of the previous year.

During the Middle Ages under the influence of the Christian Church, many countries moved the start of the year to one of several important Christian festivals — December 25 (the Nativity of Jesus), March 1, March 25 (the Annunciation), or even Easter. Eastern European countries (most of them with populations showing allegiance to the Orthodox Church) began their numbered year on September 1 from about 988.

In England, January 1 was celebrated as the New Year festival, but from the 12th century to 1752 the year in England began on March 25 (Lady Day). So, for example, the Parliamentary record records the execution of Charles I occurring in 1648 (as the year did not end until March 24), although modern histories adjust the start of the year to January 1 and record the execution as occurring in 1649.

Most western European countries changed the start of the year to January 1 before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. For example, Scotland changed the start of the Scottish New Year to January 1 in 1600. England, Ireland and the British colonies changed the start of the year to January 1 in 1752. Later that year in September, the Gregorian calendar was introduced throughout Britain and the British colonies. These two reforms were implemented by the Calendar (New Style) Act 1750.

January 1 became the official start of the year as follows:

  • 1522 The Republic of Venice
  • 1544 Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
  • 1556 Spain, Portugal
  • 1559 Prussia, Sweden
  • 1564 France
  • 1576 Southern Netherlands
  • 1579 Lorraine
  • 1583 United Provinces of the Netherlands (northern)
  • 1600 Scotland
  • 1700 Russia
  • 1721 Tuscany
  • 1752 Great Britain (excluding Scotland) and its colonies

What Happened On January 1

  • 1438
    Albert II of Habsburg is crowned King of Hungary.
  • 1808
    The importation of slaves into the United States is banned.
  • 1845
    The Cobble Hill Tunnel in Brooklyn is completed.
  • 1908
    For the first time, a ball is dropped in New York, New York’s Times Square to signify the start of the New Year at midnight.
  • 1920
    The Belorussian Communist Organisation is founded as a separate party.
  • 1927
    Turkey adopts the Gregorian calendar: December 18, 1926 (Julian), is immediately followed by January 1, 1927 (Gregorian).
  • 1945
    World War II: In retaliation for the Malmedy massacre, U.S. troops massacre 30 SS prisoners at Chenogne.
  • 1945
    World War II: Operation Nordwind, the last major German offensive on the Western Front begins.
  • 1948
    The British railway network is nationalised to form British Railways.
  • 1954
    NBC makes the first coast-to-coast NTSC color broadcast when it telecast the Tournament of Roses Parade, with public demonstrations given across the United States on prototype color receivers.
  • 1958
    The European Economic Community is established.
  • 1970
    Unix time begins at 00:00:00 UTC/GMT.
  • 1985
    The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
  • 1989
    The Montreal Protocol Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer comes into force.
  • 1992
    Russia is officially formed.
  • 1995
    Sweden, Austria, and Finland are admitted into the European Union.
  • 1995
    The Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe becomes the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
  • 1997
    Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan is appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations.
  • 1997
    Zaire officially joins the World Trade Organization.
  • 2011
    Estonia officially adopts the Euro currency and becomes the seventeenth eurozone country.

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