New Year's Day | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/new-years-day/RSS feed for New Year's DayenWed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000'Excitement With a Little Dash of Fear': Polar Plunges Ring in the New Year With a Splash. But What Actually Happens to Your Body?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/excitement-with-a-little-dash-of-fear-polar-plunges-ring-in-the-new-year-with-a-splash-but-what-actually-happens-to-your-body-180987934/Three experts share the science behind taking a dip in cold water—and offer safety tips that any potential plungers should bear in mindWed, 31 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/excitement-with-a-little-dash-of-fear-polar-plunges-ring-in-the-new-year-with-a-splash-but-what-actually-happens-to-your-body-180987934/The First Ever Times Square Ball Drop Was Held Atop the New York Times Headquarters in 1907, Starting a Cherished Traditionhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-first-ever-times-square-ball-drop-was-held-atop-the-new-york-times-headquarters-on-this-day-in-1907-starting-a-cherished-tradition-180985753/Time balls date back to the early 19th century, when they signaled the time to passing sailors. Now they’re part of the pomp and circumstance of the new yearTue, 31 Dec 2024 10:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-first-ever-times-square-ball-drop-was-held-atop-the-new-york-times-headquarters-on-this-day-in-1907-starting-a-cherished-tradition-180985753/The National Film Registry Adds 25 New Movies, Including ‘Dirty Dancing,’ ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-national-film-registry-adds-25-new-movies-including-dirty-dancing-beverly-hills-cop-and-star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan-180985693/This year’s list includes a diverse set of American films celebrating various genres and storytellersWed, 18 Dec 2024 22:01:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-national-film-registry-adds-25-new-movies-including-dirty-dancing-beverly-hills-cop-and-star-trek-ii-the-wrath-of-khan-180985693/Haiti's Beloved Soup Joumou Serves Up 'Freedom in Every Bowl'https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/haitis-beloved-soup-joumou-serves-up-freedom-in-every-bowl-180981378/Every year, Haitians around the globe eat the pumpkin dish on January 1 to commemorate the liberation of the world’s first free Black republicFri, 30 Dec 2022 12:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/haitis-beloved-soup-joumou-serves-up-freedom-in-every-bowl-180981378/Why Do We Count Down to the New Year?https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-do-we-count-down-to-the-new-year-180979289/A historian traces the tradition's links to space travel, the Doomsday Clock and Alfred HitchcockThu, 30 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-do-we-count-down-to-the-new-year-180979289/The Science Behind Champagne Bubbleshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-science-behind-champagne-bubbles-180979272/As you uncork that bottle and raise your glass, take time to toast the physics and chemistry along with the New YearThu, 30 Dec 2021 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-science-behind-champagne-bubbles-180979272/How to Participate in the Lunar New Year This Yearhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lunar-new-year-explained-and-how-participate-180976971/The Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Freer and Sackler Galleries host virtual eventsWed, 10 Feb 2021 15:02:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/lunar-new-year-explained-and-how-participate-180976971/Marching Bands Make Seismic Waves at the Rose Paradehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/marching-bands-make-seismic-waves-rose-parade-180974897/A fiber optic cable system for sensing earthquakes also gives marching bands a new source of bragging rightsTue, 19 May 2020 11:30:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/marching-bands-make-seismic-waves-rose-parade-180974897/Moscow Brought in Fake Snow for New Year's Eve Festivities to Counter an Unseasonably Warm Decemberhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/moscow-brought-fake-snow-counter-unseasonably-warm-december-180973886/A lack of festive atmosphere isn't the only issue; the city's snowless New Year's points to the serious effects of climate change on Russia Tue, 31 Dec 2019 20:42:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/moscow-brought-fake-snow-counter-unseasonably-warm-december-180973886/'Dry January' Has Benefits All Year Longhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dry-january-has-benefits-all-year-long-180971163/Research suggests the alcohol-free challenge reduces consumption for months afterwardThu, 03 Jan 2019 20:12:02 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dry-january-has-benefits-all-year-long-180971163/