New Year’s Day is a universal celebration, passing from one year to another. Common celebrations include fireworks, champagne, kisses at midnight, and midnight countdowns. Did you know that New Year’s Day isn’t the only January 1 holiday? From a number of religious observances to secular themes that embody spiritual principles, here’s a list of seven different holidays that ring in the New Year (other than New Year’s Day).
Feast of the Circumcision of Christ
The Feast of the Circumcision of Christ is a cross-denominational Christian observance (Eastern Orthodoxy, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism) of Christ’s circumcision on the eighth day (in accord with Jewish law):
When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:22-24, NIV)
Within Christian tradition, Christ’s circumcision is the first time He shed blood. As a result, it’s seen as the beginning of Christ’s redemption process for humanity. His circumcision also proves His humanity and obedience to the law and His parents.
The Orthodox celebrate this feast with an all-night vigil, starting on December 31. In Russian tradition, they merge the Feast of the Circumcision with the Feast of St. Basil the Great, following their usual Divine Liturgy with a special intercessory service known as a Paraklesis. Anglicans and Lutherans acknowledge it with special services.
The Solemnity of Mary
Until 1960, Roman Catholics also observed the Feast of the Circumcision on New Year’s Day. With the advance of Vatican II, the feast switched focus from Christ’s circumcision to Mary’s maternity. The Solemnity of Mary (set in 1969) is a holy day of obligation. Among Catholics, holy days of obligation require members to attend mass whether the day falls on a Sunday, or not. Its purpose is to exalt Mary’s role in salvation as the Mother of God, as she is titled in Catholicism.
Byzantine Rite churches celebrate Mary as Mother of God on December 26 and in the Coptic Orthodox Church on January 16.
World Day of Peace
Also a Catholic observance, the World Day of Peace has both sacred and secular acknowledgement worldwide. First started in 1967 by Pope Paul VI, it calls Catholics to take an active role in world peace. On January 1, the acting pope delivers a message covering two topics: a theme set for the year and prayer calling for peace. Messages typically revolve around world events (such as calls for peace in the Middle East), human rights issues, immigration, and anti-abortion.
January 1 is also the Universal Hour of Peace, which seeks to build relationships with opposing groups and nations. Warring groups recognize this day with an hour-long cease fire. On a more immediate level, people are to avoid fights and arguments for one hour. This hour, acknowledged by the United Nations, was first proposed by Dr. Barbara O’Guinn Condron of the School of Metaphysics.
It is also Global Family Day: One Day of Peace and Sharing, a United Nations observance celebrating worldwide peace and understanding. First proposed by Linda Grover, this day gained momentum from two books: Tree Island (a utopian novel by the founder) and One Day in Peace, 2000 (a children’s book by Steve Diamond and Robert Alan Silverstein).
Feast of Basil the Great
St. Basil the Great was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia in 329. He came from a very devout family; both his parents and siblings are also acknowledged in the canon of saints. He served as a bishop for eight years, best-known as a champion against the Arian heresy. In Eastern Orthodoxy, the Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil is used ten times per year, starting on January 1, his feast day.
In Greek tradition, St. Basil brings children gifts on January 1. They also eat vasilopita, a bread or cake baked with a coin inside. Legend has it that St. Basil would place gold coins in bread, surprising poor families with wealth in a unique way. Adherents visit friends and relatives, sing New Year’s songs, and set an extra place at the table for Saint Basil.
St. Basil is also honored in Roman Catholicism and the Anglican Church on January 2, in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod on January 10, In the Episcopal Church and Anglican Church of Canada on June 14, in the Byzantine Rite on January 30, and in the Coptic Orthodox Church on either January 14 or 15.
Public Domain Day
While Public Domain Day is not a religious holiday, the existence of Public Domain literature is a blessing to Christians worldwide. Public Domain Day celebrates the authors and works that now exist without copyright. Such enables the free distribution of essential works, whether literary, graphic, dramatic, architectural, spoken, musical, or artistic.
Copyrights protect original creations of all sorts, ensuring that the person who created it holds its rights. They protect work from theft and unauthorized use. As an important resource, copyrights ensure writers, artists, recording artists, playwrights, and designers are able to benefit from the things they create.
Copyright protection for works created after January 1, 1978 last throughout the creator’s life, plus seventy additional years. This means copyrights eventually expire. When no one renews a copyright, it enters the Public Domain. When such happens, new artists, musicians, authors, designers, and creators can use public domain resources to create new works. The Public Domain realm is also an important resource for education and history, as it makes things such as books, plays, songs, and designs affordable.
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus
The Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus often overlaps with the Feast of the Circumcision, mentioned earlier. It celebrates the official naming of the Christ-child, Jesus. Roman Catholics no longer observe this rite on January 1, not since 1969. In that church, it is sometimes an optional feast on January 2 or 3. Lutherans acknowledge it on January 1 along with the Feast of the Circumcision, as do Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans.
The first incidence of tongues in modern Pentecostalism
Although not considered a feast day among Pentecostals, January 1 is a special day in the history of Pentecostalism. The students of Bethel Bible College gathered New Year’s Eve, 1900 to pray and wait for the Holy Spirit to descend upon them. At 11 PM on January 1, 1901, Agnes Ozman, a student of Charles Parham, requested he lay hands on her so she might speak in tongues. Her prayers were heard! Somewhere in that night, light surrounded her face and head as she began speaking in Chinese.
Accounts say she spoke no English for three days and was also able to write Chinese characters. Nine other individuals also received the baptism of the Spirit, which inspired the opening of Parham’s Bible college in Houston. A student, Lucy Farrow, would receive the gift of tongues in 1906, followed by another 13,000 in Los Angeles, California. This now infamous experience is known as the Azusa Street Revival.
Starting the year right
These different observances show many ways to start New Year’s Day right. Whether reading a public domain work, promoting peace, acknowledging the gift of tongues, celebrating early stages of Christ’s life, or acknowledging specific saints, it’s obvious that the New Year has much to offer us so we will focus on important things to come as time moves forward.
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