Why Jews Don't Celebrate New Year's: The Untold History of January 1st 

As fireworks light up the skies and champagne toasts ring in the new year across the globe, January 1st evokes joy and renewal for many. But for Jews, this date carries a far darker legacy, one steeped in centuries of persecution, forced conversions, and violence. Far from a night of revelry, New Year's Day has often been synonymous with anti-Semitic decrees and pogroms, transforming a calendar milestone into a symbol of suffering.

The association between January 1st and anti-Jewish violence traces back to the early Christian era. The date marks the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus in several Christian traditions, commemorating the ritual eight days after his birth on December 25th. This feast, ratified at the Council of Nicaea in 325 CE under Emperor Constantine, was influenced by Pope Sylvester I, whose saint's day falls on December 31st, known as "Sylvester" in Israel and a few other countries. Sylvester played a role in severing Christianity from its Jewish roots, including laws that prohibited Jews from living in Jerusalem and restricted their freedoms.

In ancient Rome, January 1st (the Kalends of January) was part of pagan festivals following Saturnalia, involving riotous behavior and idolatry. The Talmud warned Jews against engaging in business on such days to avoid complicity in pagan rites. As Christianity adopted the Julian and later Gregorian calendars, reformed by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, January 1st became entrenched as the civil new year in Christian lands.

This shift encouraged anti-Semitic sentiments, with the date often reserved for acts of violence against Jewish communities.

Throughout medieval Europe, New Year's Day saw synagogue burnings, the destruction of Jewish books, public tortures, and murders. These acts were not isolated; they formed part of broader campaigns where Christian holidays, including Christmas and New Year's, triggered pogroms in Eastern Europe. Jewish families would hide, avoiding Torah study or loud gatherings to evade detection on these days.

One of the most infamous chapters unfolded under Pope Gregory XIII, whose decrees on January 1st targeted Roman Jews with ruthless precision. On January 1, 1577, Gregory mandated that all Roman Jews attend weekly compulsory sermons aimed at converting them to Christianity, held in synagogues after Friday night services. Non-attendance was punishable by death.

The following year, on January 1, 1578, he imposed a tax on Jews to fund a "House of Conversion," a facility dedicated to pressuring Jews into abandoning their faith. Then, on January 1, 1581, Gregory ordered the confiscation of all Hebrew scrolls and books from the Roman Jewish community, leading to widespread destruction and the murder of thousands in related campaigns.

These papal actions exemplified how January 1st became a day for enforcing conversion, financial exploitation, and cultural erasure. As one historical account notes, "Thousands of Jews were murdered in the campaign. Throughout the medieval and post-medieval periods, January 1… was reserved for anti-Jewish activities."

Eastern Europe, the pattern persisted into the modern era. Pogroms, violent riots against Jews, often erupted around Christian holidays, including New Year's Eve and Day.

While not every pogrom was tied exclusively to January 1st, the date's alignment with festivities heightened risks. For instance, in Russia, Empress Catherine the Great established the Pale of Settlement on January 1, 1791, confining millions of Jews to a restricted western region until 1917. This decree institutionalized discrimination, paving the way for further violence.

Subsequent Russian rulers amplified the oppression. On January 1, 1798, all Hebrew books faced censorship. Czar Alexander I, on January 1, 1807, restricted Jewish trades, property ownership, and education, banning Yiddish in schools and public roles. These measures contributed to an atmosphere where pogroms flourished, such as the waves in Ukraine and Poland in 1919, where thousands were killed amid civil unrest.

The Nazi era brought chilling escalations. On January 1, 1939, Jews in Germany were forced to add "Israel" or "Sarah" to their names and carry identity cards constantly. The same day, all Jewish-owned businesses were ordered closed. By January 1, 1940, Jews were forbidden from gathering for prayer in synagogues or homes under Nazi control.

Today, many Jews, particularly in Israel, approach New Year's with caution. The holiday's pagan origins, Christian associations, and history of bloodshed make it unappealing. As one source explains, "Over the centuries, January 1st often became a day of forced sermons, violent attacks, book burnings, and pogroms."

Instead, Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah in the fall, focusing on reflection and renewal rooted in biblical tradition.

This bloody history serves as a stark reminder: While the world parties, the Jewish people remember. In an era of rising anti-Semitism, acknowledging these events honors the resilience of survivors and underscores the need for vigilance against hatred.