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Happy New Year!

January 1, 2024

|Recurring Event (See all)

An event every year that begins at 12:00 am on day 1 of January, repeating indefinitely

Happy New Year! ๐ŸŽŠ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽŠ

In colonial America, it was customary to exchange small gifts on New Yearโ€™s Day and visit with friends and neighbors. One common (and fragrant!) gift was an orange with cloves stuck into it, which often formed designs. ๐ŸŠ๐ŸŠ๐ŸŠ Southern Americans traditionally ate black-eyed peas for New Yearโ€™s. The peas were thought to resemble coins and represented wealth and prosperity for the coming year.

Did you know? Great Britain and its colonies (including the future United States) didnโ€™t celebrate New Year on January 1 until 1752. Prior to that year, the new year was celebrated on March 25 (though January 1 was often used informally). Why March 25? It coincided with the Christian feast of the Annunciation.

Hip, Hip, Hurrah!, Peder Severin Krรธyer, 1888

-Written by Anna Zemaitaitis, Communications and Design Officer

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Date:
January 1, 2024
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