Definition

Noun: 1. The first day of the year: The specific date marking the beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. 2. (Roman Catholic Church) A holy day of obligation: A significant feast day in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar on which attendance at Mass is required. 3. (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) Feast day celebrating the Circumcision of Jesus: A religious feast, historically observed on January 1st, commemorating the circumcision of Jesus Christ eight days after his birth, as recounted in the Gospel of Luke.

Usage Examples

• As the first day of the year:
  • We always make resolutions on January 1.
  • The new law comes into effect on January 1.
• As a religious observance:
  • For Catholics, January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a holy day of obligation.
  • The feast of the Circumcision, observed on January 1, is less commonly emphasized in modern Anglican liturgy.

Advanced Usage

• "January 1st": The ordinal form ("first") is equally common and interchangeable with "January 1" in most contexts.
  • Please submit your report by January 1st.

Variants and Related Words

• New Year's Day: The common name for the holiday on January 1, celebrating the start of the new year.
• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: The contemporary name for the Roman Catholic holy day of obligation observed on January 1.
• Feast of the Circumcision: The traditional name for the Christian feast day observed on January 1.

Synonyms

• New Year's Day
• The first of January

Related Phrases

• "Ring in the new year": To celebrate the beginning of the new year, especially on the night of December 31st and into January 1st.
  • We gathered to ring in the new year together.

Noun

1. the first day of the year
2. (Roman Catholic Church) a holy day of obligation
3. (Roman Catholic Church and Anglican Church) feast day celebrating the circumcision of Jesus; celebrated on January 1st