The early Roman calendar used March 1 as New Years Day. Later the ancient Romans made the beginning of the year January 1. By 1600, many western nations had adopted a revised calendar called the Gregorian calendar. This is the calendar we use today, and it restored January 1 as the beginging of the New Year.

Ancient people started the year at harvest time. They performed rituals to purify themselves for the New Year.

Ancient Persians gave New Year's gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.

The Romans brought gifts to the emperor and emperors eventually began to demand such gifts.

The Celtic priests gave the people branches of mistletoe. The Celts took over many New Year's customs from the Romans, who invaded the British Isles in AD 43.

English husbands gave their wives money to buy pins. This custom disappeared in the 1800's but the term 'pin money' came from this custom.