In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the year; 1 January. Most solar calendars (like the Gregorian and Julian) begin the year regularly at or near the northern winter solstice. Cultures that observe a lunar calendar celebrate their Lunar New Year  at less fixed points relative to the solar year. (such as the Chinese New Year and the Islamic New Year)In pre-Christian Rome under the Julian calendar the day was dedicated to Janus. Janus was the god of gateways and beginnings. From Roman times until the middle of the 18th century, the new year was celebrated at various stages and in various parts of Christian Europe. For example, on 25 December, on 1 March, on 25 March and on the movable feast of Easter.[Today most countries now use the Gregorian calendar as their civil calendar. The 1st of January according to that calendar is among the most celebrated public holidays in the world. The day is often observed with fireworks at the stroke of midnight following New Year's Eve as the new year starts in each time zone. Other global New Year's Day traditions include making New Year's resolutions and calling one's friends and family… wikipedia.org