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New Year isn't always on 1 January!

There are different calendars depending on your religion or where you live in the world.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated between the dates of 21 January and 20 February, depending on where the moon is in the sky.

The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It happens in the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In 2009 it will begin on 18th September.

More new year facts

In Denmark, it is good to find a pile of broken plates at your door at New Year. Old dishes are saved all year to throw at friends' doors. The more dishes outside your house the more friends you have!

In Greece, tradition saya that St Basil fills your shoes with presents at midnight on New Year's Day.

New Year is the oldest celebrated holiday. It was first celebrated in ancient Babylon (now part of Iraq, a country in the Middle East) around 4000 years ago.

Because of the way the world spins on its axis, Kirimati on Christmas Island is the first place to celebrate New Year. The UK is one of the last. 

New Year greetings

'Happy New Year' in French is 'Bonne annee', in German it is 'Gutes neues jahr' and in Welsh it is 'Blwyddyn Newydd Dda'.


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