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

  • 1515 –
    King Francis I of France succeeds to the French throne.
  • 1707 –
    John V is crowned King of Portugal.
  • 1808 –
    The importation of slaves into the United States is banned.
  • 1822 –
    The Greek Constitution of 1822 is adopted by the First National Assembly at Epidaurus.
  • 1863 –
    American Civil War: The Emancipation Proclamation takes effect in Confederate territory.
  • 1901 –
    Nigeria becomes a British protectorate.
  • 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.
  • 1913 –
    The British Board of Censors is established.
  • 1916 –
    German troops abandon Yaoundé and their Kamerun colony to British forces and begin the long march to Spanish Guinea.
  • 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).
  • 1934 –
    Nazi Germany passes the “Law for the Prevention of Genetically Diseased Offspring”.
  • 1962 –
    United States Navy SEALs established.
  • 1964 –
    The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is divided into the independent republics of Zambia and Malawi, and the British-controlled Rhodesia.
  • 1966 –
    After a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa assumes power as president of the Central African Republic.
  • 1984 –
    The original American Telephone & Telegraph Company is divested of its 22 Bell System companies as a result of the settlement of the 1974 United States Department of Justice antitrust suit against AT&T.
  • 1985 –
    The first British mobile phone call is made by Ernie Wise to Vodafone.
  • 1993 –
    Dissolution of Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovakia is divided into Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
  • 1995 –
    The Draupner wave in the North Sea in Norway is detected, confirming the existence of freak waves.
  • 1997 –
    Zaire officially joins the World Trade Organization.

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