New Years Day is right around the corner, isn’t it?

By Nancy December 28th, 2011

I’ve always looked forward to the week between Christmas and New Years. It’s usually a slow work week, and it’s a good opportunity to reflect on the outgoing year and jot down some goals for the new year. This year’s New Years celebration will be a quiet one for me, with my husband and I staying home as he is on call over the weekend at the hospital where he works.

I first realized that not everyone observed New Years Day on January 1 when I got to know an Eastern Orthodox Christian woman. Since then I’ve done some research and found other dates and celebrations to start the new year, whenever it may be.

Chinese New Year is observed on the first day of the lunar calendar, and normally falls between January 20 and February 20. This coming year it will be on January 23.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the new year on the Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox which occurs around March 21.

The Islamic New Year is different each year as it’s based on the lunar year, and already happened a month ago on November 27.

The Orthodox New Year is on January 14.

Happy New Year everyone!