The New Student's Reference Work/New Year's Day

New Year’s Day is the first day of the year.  It now is usually celebrated by feasting and the interchange of presents.  Jews, Chinese, Egyptians and Mohammedans, while differing as to the time of celebration, celebrate the first day of the year in their respective calendars.  In the Christian era Christmas day, Easter and the 1st of March have each in turn been celebrated, and it was not until late in the 16th century that the 1st of January was universally accepted.  In Scotland, France and Italy New Year’s is of more importance than Christmas, but in other countries the latter has superseded the former as a day of rejoicing and of making gifts.