What Is The First Country To Celebrate New Year's

Alright, gather 'round, folks. I've got a tale to tell about the world's first New Year's party. Now, you might think it was some ancient Roman bash, or maybe a wild Viking rager. But no, it's a story that starts in the Far East, where the sun rises on the first day of the year.

Enter the Land of the Rising Sun

That's right, we're talking about Japan, the land of sushi, samurai, and, as it turns out, the world's first New Year's celebrations. Now, I know what you're thinking: "But Japan didn't even exist back then!" Well, hold your horses, because this story goes way back, even before the Romans were a twinkle in Caesar's eye.

We're talking about the Jōmon period, around 14,000 BC. These were the folks who first called Japan home, and they had a thing for parties. They'd gather around a big, open fire, dance, sing, and generally make merry. Sound familiar? That's because they were celebrating the winter solstice, which is basically the New Year's Eve of the ancient world.

But Why Japan?

Well, it turns out, the Japanese have always been a bit obsessed with time. They were one of the first civilizations to develop a calendar, and they were so good at it, they even lent their name to a calendar system: the lunisolar calendar. Fancy, huh?

Now, you might be wondering, "How did they celebrate back then?" Well, it wasn't exactly a silent night. They'd bang drums, ring bells, and even set off fireworks. Sound like your average New Year's Eve? I thought so.

Countries That Celebrate New Year in January

Fast Forward to the Future

Skip ahead a few thousand years, and we're in the 7th century AD. The Japanese have adopted Buddhism, and with it, a new way of marking time. They start celebrating the new year on January 1st, just like we do today. But they didn't stop at parties. Oh no, they had to go and make it official.

In 607 AD, the Japanese emperor sent a New Year's greeting to the Chinese emperor. Talk about a long-distance friendship! This was the first recorded instance of a New Year's greeting, making Japan the first country to celebrate the new year in a way that's recognizable today.

But What About the Rest of the World?

Well, while Japan was busy partying, the rest of the world was catching up. The Romans started celebrating the new year in January, named after the god Janus, who had two faces - one looking back at the past, and one looking forward to the future. The Vikings celebrated in December, and the Jews celebrated in September. It was a whole new year free-for-all!

First and Last Countries to Ring In The New Year | [list of countries]

But it wasn't until the 16th century that the Gregorian calendar, the one we use today, was introduced. Before that, every country had its own way of marking time. So, in a way, Japan was the first to celebrate the new year as we know it today, even if the rest of the world took their sweet time to catch up.

So, Let's Party Like It's 14,000 BC

Next time you're ringing in the new year, raise a glass to the Jōmon people. They might not have had champagne or Times Square, but they sure knew how to throw a good party. And who knows? Maybe they were the first to make a New Year's resolution (probably something like, "I resolve to not get eaten by a woolly mammoth this year.")

And there you have it, folks. The story of the world's first New Year's celebration. So, the next time you're watching the ball drop, remember, you're taking part in a tradition that's over 14,000 years old. Pretty amazing, huh? Now, who's ready for some sushi?