Question about New Year's Day in the UK from an American (rated, best)

[Boothwynman]

Happy New Year, Brits, from this lifelong U.S. East Coaster whose foreign travels in his 61 years have consisted of six visits to Canada and a brief sojourn to (just inside) Mexico. No pond hops.

Specifically this question involves the Beatles. Today is the anniversary of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Best's audition at Decca Records. Yep, it happened on *New Year's Day*, which I've read (in one of Mark Lewisohn's books) was not a "public holiday" (in Lewisohn's words) in the UK in 1962. I assume NYD was not a bank holiday (except when it was a weekend day) back then, either.

Now to the nub of the question. When did Britain "holiday-ize" New Year's Day (if it has), and what were the politics behind the move?

I can see retailers opening in Britain on NYD (I've worked several NYD's in the retail sector [though I'm off today]), but the bureaucratic side of a record company?

[Brave New World]

Originally Posted by Boothwynman

Happy New Year, Brits, from this lifelong U.S. East Coaster whose foreign travels in his 61 years have consisted of six visits to Canada and a brief sojourn to (just inside) Mexico. No pond hops.

Specifically this question involves the Beatles. Today is the anniversary of Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Best's audition at Decca Records. Yep, it happened on *New Year's Day*, which I've read (in one of Mark Lewisohn's books) was not a "public holiday" (in Lewisohn's words) in the UK in 1962. I assume NYD was not a bank holiday (except when it was a weekend day) back then, either.

Now to the nub of the question. When did Britain "holiday-ize" New Year's Day (if it has), and what were the politics behind the move?

I can see retailers opening in Britain on NYD (I've worked several NYD's in the retail sector [though I'm off today]), but the bureaucratic side of a record company?

England traditionally had 12 days of Christmas, the "First Day of Christmas" was the 25th December and the last was the 5th January.

In England in the Middle Ages, the Christmas period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season on 5 January (the last night before Ephiphany which started 6 January).

William Shakespeare used it as the setting for one of his most famous stage plays, Twelfth Night. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels.

Following the English Civil War, Cromwell and his protestant fundamentalists banned Christmas and other such celebration, however Christmas did re-establish itself over the centuries.

The traditional version of Santa Clause in Britain, was Father Christmas, who dressed in green.

New Years (Hogmanay) was enshrined as a public holiday in Scotland in 1871, as were religious holidays in other parts of the UK, and New Years was still celebrated in England long before it was officially made a holiday by the Government. Even before the establishment of official holidays, many businesses would close early on New Years Eve and not reopen until after New Years day.

There are a lot of historic local traditions in terms of New Years, including the burning Viking longships in Yorkshire or Wales' Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) or Fire/Tar festivals or Hogmanay in Scotland etc etc

Britain's best traditional New Year's Eve celebrations - Countryfile

Hogmanay - Wikipedia

As for Auld Lang Syne, the lyrics were written by famous Scottish writer and poet Robbie Burns, with William Shield composing the accompanying music.

Burns night itself, is a major celebration in Scotland every January, with lots of traditions including Haggis, neeps and tatties, as well as bag pipes. This year Burns night (Burns Supper) is on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

Burns supper - Wikipedia

Happy New Year to everyone on City Data - BNW.

[dizzybint]

Originally Posted by Brave New World

England traditionally had 12 days of Christmas, the "First Day of Christmas" was the 25th December and the last was the 5th January.

In England in the Middle Ages, the Christmas period was one of continuous feasting and merrymaking, which climaxed on Twelfth Night, the traditional end of the Christmas season on 5 January (the last night before Ephiphany which started 6 January).

William Shakespeare used it as the setting for one of his most famous stage plays, Twelfth Night. Often a Lord of Misrule was chosen to lead the Christmas revels.

Following the English Civil War, Cromwell and his protestant fundamentalists banned Christmas and other such celebration, however Christmas did re-establish itself over the centuries.

The traditional version of Santa Clause in Britain, was Father Christmas, who dressed in green.

New Years (Hogmanay) was enshrined as a public holiday in Scotland in 1871, as were religious holidays in other parts of the UK, and New Years was still celebrated in England long before it was officially made a holiday by the Government. Even before the establishment of official holidays, many businesses would close early on New Years Eve and not reopen until after New Years day.

There are a lot of historic local traditions in terms of New Years, including the burning Viking longships in Yorkshire or Wales' Mari Lwyd (Grey Mare) or Fire/Tar festivals or Hogmanay in Scotland etc etc

Britain's best traditional New Year's Eve celebrations - Countryfile

Hogmanay - Wikipedia

As for Auld Lang Syne, the lyrics were written by famous Scottish writer and poet Robbie Burns, with William Shield composing the accompanying music.

Burns night itself, is a major celebration in Scotland every January, with lots of traditions including Haggis, neeps and tatties, as well as bag pipes. This year Burns night (Burns Supper) is on Wednesday, 25 January 2023.

Burns supper - Wikipedia

Happy New Year to everyone on City Data - BNW.

thank you and a Happy New Year to you too from Scotland... if truth be known Rabbie took some of the words from a much earlier author it seems for Auld Lang Syne...
Some of the lyrics were indeed "collected" rather than composed by the poet; the ballad "Old Long Syne" printed in 1711 by James Watson shows considerable similarity in the first verse and the chorus to Burns' later poem, and is almost certainly derived from the same "old song". but again ... there are words to the song even before Watson in 1660 with very similar words.... so who knows... Rabbie though is the one we all know . Burns did though write many poems some very raunchy about this escapades with the ladies..