Did you know there are more than 25 completely different New Year’s Days around the world?
With all the annual hype put into our own routine of welcoming in the new year on 1 January, it can be easy to forget that a number of different cultures and religions have New Year’s on a different date.
While the new year has already commenced for those following the Gregorian calendar, the most widely used calendar in the world, the Chinese New Year for instance, has yet to begin. Saturday 10 February marks the first day of the Year of the Dragon, one of 12 Chinese zodiac signs that rotate every year.
With our communities becoming more multi-cultural, recognising the various milestones from around the world provides us with a chance to share different traditions and customs with our residents – and have some fun along the way!
Talk with your residents about what other New Year events they might enjoy celebrating and include them on your Activity Calendar.
Here are just some of the New Year days recognised around the world.
| Name of the New Year | Country or Countries | Date in 2024 |
| Gregorian New Year | International | January 1 |
| Chinese New Year | China and various countries | January 25 |
| Islamic New Year (Hijri) | Islamic countries | August 19 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish communities worldwide | September 27 |
| Diwali (Hindu New Year) | India and other countries | October 23 |
| Songkran | Thailand | April 13-15 |
| Nowruz | Iran and Central Asia | March 20 |
| Chol Chnam Thmay | Cambodia | April 14-16 |
| Nyepi | Bali, Indonesia | March 25 |
| Matariki | Maori (New Zealand) | June 24 |
| Losar | Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan | February 24 |
| Tet (Vietnamese New Year) | Vietnam | February 5 |
| Seollal | South Korea | January 22-24 |
| Pohela Boishakh | Bangladesh | April 14 |
| Aluth Avurudda | Sri Lanka | April 14 |
| Ethiopian New Year | Ethiopia | September 11 |
| Oshogatsu | Japan | January 1-3 |
| Samhain | Celtic and Neopagan | October 31 |
| Puthandu | Tamil Nadu, India | April 14 |
| Gudi Padwa | Maharashtra, India | April 2 |
| Pagan New Year (Wheel of the Year) | Neopagan | Various (e.g., December 21) |
| Islamic New Year (Saka) | India | March 21 |
| Muharram | Various Islamic countries | August 9 |
| Cheti Chand | Sindhi community | March 23 |