The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
New Year's Day among ancient peoples the first day of the year frequently corresponded to the vernal or autumnal equinox, or to the summer or winter solstice. In the Middle Ages it was celebrated among Christians usually on Mar. 25. After the adoption of the Gregorian calendar that began in 1582, the day was observed on the first of January. The Jewish New Year is the first day of Tishri, which falls some time in September or in early October. The Chinese New Year (between Jan. 10 and Feb. 19 of the Gregorian calendar) is the most important of their festivals. The Muslim New Year falls on th...
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New Year's Day
The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English
New Year's Day • n. the first day of the year; in the modern Western calendar, January 1.
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April Fool's Day
The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
or All Fool's Day, holiday of uncertain origin, known for ... calendar in 1564, the date was observed as New Year's Day by cultures as varied as the Roman and ... Mar. 21. The English gave April Fool's Day its first widespread celebration during ...
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