Why is New Year's Day called New Year's Day? The names of New Year's Day vary.

Why is New Year’s Day called New Year’s Day? January 1st of the Gregorian calendar every year is New Year's Day. In ancient times, China's New Year's Day was the same as the current Spring Festival. Next, let’s take a look at it together.

Why is New Year's Day called New Year's Day?

General Overview

1. "Yuan" means beginning, and "Dan" refers to the time when the sun just rises above the horizon. The New Year's Day we are talking about now refers to the first day of the new year, which is January 1st in the Gregorian calendar, and is a legal holiday in our country.
2. The word "New Year's Day" first appeared in "Book of Jin": "Emperor Zhuanxu took the first month of summer as the beginning, which was actually the spring of the New Year's Day." The traditional Chinese folk New Year's Day has a history of more than 5,000 years. The Spring Festival we celebrate now refers to the New Year's Day in ancient times.

Other names

1. In ancient times, New Year's Day was also called Shangri. The Book of Documents, Yaodian, records: "On the first day of the first month, the emperor received the end of the year from Wenzu. Shangri is the first day of the first month, and in ancient times it specifically refers to the first day of the first month."
2. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, New Year's Day was also called Luduan. "Youxue Qionglin·Sui Shi" records: "Luduan is the first day of the New Year."
3. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, New Year's Day was also called Sanshi. "Han Shu Bao Xuanxuan" said: "Today is eclipsed at Sanshi, which is really scary. Because it is the beginning of the year, the beginning of the month, and the beginning of the day, so it is called this."
4. In the Song Dynasty, New Year's Day was also called the New Year. Wu Zimu's "Dream of the Red Chamber" records: "The first day of the first month is called New Year's Day, and it is commonly called the New Year."

The origin of New Year's Day

1. During the prosperous era of Yao and Shun more than 4,000 years ago, Emperor Yao worked diligently for the people and did many good things for them, and was loved by the people.
2. Before his death, Emperor Yao passed the throne to Shun, who was both virtuous and talented, and said to Shun: "You must pass on the throne well in the future, so that I can rest in peace after my death."
3. Later, Shun passed the throne to Yu, who had made great contributions to flood control. Yu, like Shun, was close to the people and loved the people. He did many good things for the people and was very loved.
4. In order to commemorate Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun, people regarded the day when Emperor Shun offered sacrifices to the heaven and earth and the former Emperor Yao as the beginning of the year, and called the first day of the first lunar month "New Year's Day", or "Yuan Zheng", which is the original saying of New Year's Day in ancient times.