Live countdown to New Year's Day 2026
New Year's Day marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year and represents humanity's most universally celebrated fresh start. Fixed on January 1st since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, this date was chosen by Pope Gregory XIII to align with astronomical calculations and standardize international timekeeping. The January 1st date replaced various historical new year celebrations that occurred in March, September, or other months across different cultures. From a scientific perspective, this date coincides with Earth's perihelion (closest approach to the Sun), occurring around January 3rd, making it astronomically significant. As a federal holiday in most countries, New Year's Day creates unique global business patterns with coordinated closures, financial market resets, and synchronized planning cycles. The "observed on Monday if falls on weekend" rule ensures consistent three-day weekends for economic stability and workforce planning.
Service availability on Thursday, January 1, 2026
Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance only. Always check locally with specific services for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
January 1st was established as New Year's Day by the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582, standardizing the date across Christian nations and eventually worldwide for commercial consistency.
When January 1st falls on Saturday, Friday is typically observed as the federal holiday. When it falls on Sunday, Monday is observed, ensuring a consistent long weekend.
Yes, New Year's Day is a federal holiday in the United States, with government offices, banks, and most businesses closed.
New Year's celebrations span 26 hours globally, starting in the Pacific islands and ending in American Samoa, allowing for coordinated worldwide festivities.
Before 1582, many cultures celebrated new year in March or other dates. The January 1st standardization facilitated international trade and diplomatic coordination.
Other holidays in United States, Canada, United Kingdom