New Year's Day

New Year's Day Quick Facts - ZA

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2024 Date1 January 2024
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New Year's Day

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New Year's Day, universally recognised as the first day of the Gregorian Calendar year, serves as a significant celebration worldwide. This day offers people an opportunity to reflect on the past year, make positive goals for the new one and rejoice in festive cheer. It is observed with various customs, traditions and events, depending on cultural and regional inclinations.

Historically, New Year’s Day has been celebrated globally for thousands of years, in various forms and dates before the creation of the like-minded Gregorian Calendar by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. In South Africa, this day resonates with the values of unity and cultural diversity. It draws a unique picture of South Africa’s traditional emphasis on family ties and shared goodwill. In the multicultural society of South Africa, New Year’s Day curates a rich mix of traditions, from firework displays to festive parades and family gatherings.

In South Africa, New Year's Day, which falls on January 1 annually, is observed as a public holiday. The celebrations are diverse, mirroring its multicultural composition. These include colourful street carnivals, beach picnics and vibrant firework shows. In Cape Town, the famous annual 'Cape Minstrels Carnival' also known as 'Kaapse Klopse' sees thousands of brightly dressed minstrels taking to the streets, dancing, singing and adding much fervour to the festivities. Therefore, New Year's Day in South Africa not only marks the start of a brand new year but it also highlights a vibrant fusion of cultural traditions and community spirit that reflect the country's unique social fabric.

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Facts about New Year's Day

  • Worldwide Baby New Year is the most common symbol associated with this holiday. He is a toddler dressed in a diaper, hat, and sash bearing the numbers of the new year. The myth states that he matures into an old man during the course of the year. On December 31st, he hands his hat and sash to the new Baby New Year.
  • In the early Roman calendar, New Year was celebrated on March 1st. The new celebration of New Year on January 1st started in Rome in 153 BC. The New Year was moved to January because it was a month when two newly elected Roman consuls began their tenure, which reflected the beginning of civil year.
  • The city of Cape Town in South Africa celebrates the New Year with a huge carnival, known as the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. It dates back to the mid-19th century, it is a colorful, lively event featuring a street parade with musicians, comedians, dancers in bright outfits, and much more.
  • Food like pickled fish, hot cross buns, and Melk Tert (Milk Tart) are some of the traditional foods enjoyed during the New Year celebrations in South Africa.

Top things to do in South Africa for New Year's Day

  • Make new resolutions for the upcoming year and let go of what happened in the previous one.
  • Visit Cape Town for the annual Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, also known as Kaapse Klopse. A colorful street parade featuring food, music, and dancing.
  • Join the 5-kilometre race in the city of Johannesburg, known as the Color Run. Runners are doused with colored powder as they make their way to the finish line.

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