Why Does January First Start the New Year? - New Year's Explained?

January 1st is like the start button on a big toy, it helps us know when a new year begins.

Imagine you have a calendar that looks like a big ruler with 365 little marks, and each mark is a day. When we get to the end of December, which has 31 days, we hit the final mark. Right after that comes January 1st, it’s like turning the page in your favorite storybook.

Long ago, people used the moon to count time. But as years passed, they decided to use a special calendar with months and days. January got its name from Janus, the god of beginnings and endings, perfect for a new year!

People around the world celebrate New Year’s Day in different ways: some dance, some sing, and others just say “Happy New Year!” It's like starting fresh on your favorite game, you get to choose how you play it. January 1st is like the start button on a big toy, it helps us know when a new year begins.

Imagine you have a calendar that looks like a big ruler with 365 little marks, and each mark is a day. When we get to the end of December, which has 31 days, we hit the final mark. Right after that comes January 1st, it’s like turning the page in your favorite storybook.