While the new year begins on January 1st for most parts of the world to rejoice in the birth of 12 months, some countries don’t celebrate the year’s beginning on that specific date. The main reason is that various countries follow different calendars, with varying dates for each occasion based on their religious and cultural factors. Earlier, the new year was celebrated in March before the commencement of the Christian era. But, later on, the Romans began to consider January 1st by dedicating it to Janus, the God of new beginnings.
The Roman calendar was followed for over 16 centuries and was replaced by Pope Gregory’s Gregorian calendar in the 1500s. Since then, several countries are following the Gregorian calendar for more than 440 years to welcome the new year on January 1st. However, some countries that follow the lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar don’t bid farewell to the year on December 31st. We have put together a list of countries that don’t welcome the new year on January 1st.
List of 7 Countries That Don’t Celebrate New Year On January 1st
Country 1: India
India follows both the Gregorian calendar and Shaka calendar which explains why some states in India celebrate the new year on January 1st while some states celebrate it on different dates. This multilingual country has people from all religions, cultures, and languages as its residents who follow both lunar and solar calendars.
- Punjab: The harvest festival of Baisakhi celebrated by Punjab in April marks the start of the Vaisakh month’s first day. The land of five rivers celebrates the new year by taking part in energetic Gidda and Bangra dances. The farmers thank nature for abundant rabi crops with great enthusiasm. This day coincides with Sikh Khalsa formation day, which makes it more special.
- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh: The states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka celebrate the new year as the Ugadi festivals to welcome the birth of Chaitra month between the month of March and April. People decorate their homes with mango leaves and flowers. They prepare a dish called Pachadi, a recipe with six different flavors depicting the emotions in one’s life.
- Kerala: The Malayalis of Kerala celebrate Vishu on April 13th or 14th as the new year. The main element of this occasion is the preparation of “Vishukkani”, a huge plate filled with vegetables, flowers, fruits, money, and gold. The Vishukkani will be placed along with a statue of Lord Krishna and it will be the first sight that people will see soon after they wake up to get blessed with a prosperous life. They prepare an elaborate ‘sadhya’ lunch with rice, vegetable curries, gravies, and a sweet dish called pradhaman.
- Tamil Nadu: The people of Tamil Nadu welcome the first day of Chithirai month by celebrating Puthandu. They celebrate the new year by preparing delicacies like vada, a sweet milk dish called payasam, and mongo pachadi with fresh mangoes, neem flowers, and gur.
- Konkan, Goa, and Maharashtra: The people of Konkan, Goa, and Maharashtra celebrate the new year as Gudi Padwa’s occasion to mark the spring month’s arrival. People erect a decorated bamboo post called Gudi dvaja on this new year’s day and serve sweet dishes like Puran poli and shrikhand to their relatives.
- Sindh: Sindhi people celebrate their new year as Jhulelal Jayanthi or as Cheti Chand festival by worshipping Lord Varuna, the god of rains by preparing a huge feast as an offering.
- Bengal: The first day of the Bengali calendar is celebrated as Nabo Barsh or Pohela Boishak. The Bengalis greet each other Shubho Noboborsho and spend the day attending melas, processions, parades and cultural events held for the occasion.
- Assam: The state of Assam celebrates the new year as the Bohag Bihu festival to mark the birth of the first day of Bohag month during the mid-April. It is a harvest festival that is celebrated to thank nature for its bountiful offering. The Assamese wear their traditional dress for the occasion and perform Bihu dance and sing folk songs.
- Odisha: Odia people celebrate the traditional festival called Pana Sankranti or Maha Vishuba Sankranti on the first day of Mesa month based on the solar calendar. A fruit-based drink, Pana prepared with wood apple, coconut, cottage cheese, sugar, milk, and spices are served on this day. People welcome this new year with the hope to find new opportunities, fulfilling dreams, and make resolutions.
- Gujarat: Bestu Varas, the Gujarati new year is celebrated a day after Diwali in Kartik month to mark the start of a fresh fiscal year. On this day, the Gujaratis worship new account books called Chopda to get more profits.
Country 2: Korea
Koreans welcome the first day of their lunar calendar with the celebration of Lunar New Year, known as Seollal. It is a 3-day celebration that includes several activities like visiting one’s hometown, devouring traditional delicacies, seeking the blessings of elders and playing ancient games with friends and family.
On this day, the grown-ups in Korean families wear their colorful traditional costumes called Hanbok. The new year day begins with the preparation for the Charye tradition, where the female relatives cook an elaborate menu and the male relative serve it to their ancestors to seek their blessings. Later, they eat the food items blessed by their ancestors during the Eumbok ceremony to have a good year ahead. The delicacies of new year platter include pancakes called jeon with spring onions, and tteokguk, a rice cake soup with seaweed, meat and clear broth.
The Korean new year celebration is never complete without people playing the traditional board game of Yutnori using intricately designed sticks. The young people follow the important ritual of sebae by kneeling and bowing down to the elders to greet them. In return, the elders gift them sebaetdon, which is money covered in vibrant pouches.
Country 3: China
The Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Spring Festival based on the dates on the lunar calendar that comes with a 7-day official holiday. The lunar new year indicates the start of the spring harvest season and includes a 15-day long celebration. The date of the Chinese new year falls between January 21st to February 20th. Each year is considered the year of a specific animal based on the 12-year zodiac animal cycle. This year the lunar year was celebrated on February 1st and is called the year of the Tiger.
The Chinese people celebrate the new year by offering money-filled red envelopes and decorating their homes in red and gold colors, indicating prosperity. Several special delicacies like egg stuffed moon cakes and a rice dish called the eight treasures are served to guests. The streets of China flaunt a stunning scene filled with dancing dragons in vibrant colors and brightly lit lanterns.
Country 4: Sri Lanka
During the month of April, the Sri Lankan people celebrate Aluth Avurudda to mark spring month’s arrival. The occasion begins with boiling fresh milk in earthen pots until it drips down to symbolize flowing wealth. Traditional sweets like Kavum made from coconut oil and rice and plantain-based dishes are served.
Country 5: Bali
Balis follow the Saka calendar to celebrate Nyepi, their new year in the month of March. The entire island is an epitome of serenity and silence, as they switch off all sounds, and lights, and have no traffic activity and conversations. Bali island comes to a standstill on their new year day, as they dedicate towards self-realization and meditation to improve values like compassion, humanity, patience and kindness.
However, large-scale celebrations are on the eve of Nyepi with beautiful parades featuring huge Ogoh-ogoh, which are later burned to banish the miseries, evil, and illnesses from the island.
Country 6: Iran
The Iranian new year, Nowruz held during the spring equinox is celebrated for over 5000 years. On this day, families enjoy a complete meal with a 7-course, make colored eggs and light a candle for a bright year. They clean the burial sites of their loved ones, plant trees, place flowers and pray for happiness and prosperity.
Country 7: Cambodia
Cambodian new year, also known as Khmer new year is a 3-day festival held when the sun enters the Aries sign, according to the solar calendar. This occasion marks the arrival of the rainy season and the last day of harvest. Khmer new year is filled with rituals and traditions like Maha Songkran, Virak Wanabat, and Leang Saka.
It doesn’t matter whether the new year comes on January 1st or some other date, the only important thing is that we must be enthusiastic and optimistic in welcoming every new year to celebrate life to the fullest.