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New Year’s Day
Belarus

New Year’s Day 2026 and 2027 in Belarus

Belarus celebrates New Year’s Day with a public holiday every 1 January, as does most of the rest of the world. However, the celebrations really begin on New Year’s Eve and reach a high point with the turning of the clock from 11:59pm on 31 December to midnight on 1 January.

YearDateDayHoliday
20261 JanThuNew Year's Day
2 JanFriNew Year Holiday
20271 JanFriNew Year's Day
2 JanSatNew Year Holiday
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

New Year’s Day is a time of resolutions and starting fresh for some, while for others it is spent recovering from a big, late night spent with friends and family.

On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a dinner and party and to await the coming of midnight. Many also head out to view fireworks explode in the skies, especially in Minsk.

One interesting tradition in Belarus is that children must recite a poem or do a song or dance to get their present from “Dead Moroz” on New Year’s Eve. The present is put under the holiday tree, and Dead Moroz is also called Grandfather Frost. He is the Russian version of Old Saint Nick.

Kitchens are busy in many households across Belarus preparing 12 new year dishes to deck the table with. According to tradition, there should be one dish for each month of the coming year. As many dishes include green peas, the supermarkets are packed with people buying canned peas on 31 December!

Many stay home and watch classic TV programs on New Year’s Eve. As midnight approaches, the Belarusan president gives a speech, and the national anthem plays right after midnight. Many will also make late-night calls to friends to wish them a happy new year.

Previous Years

YearDateDayHoliday
20251 JanWedNew Year's Day
2 JanThuNew Year Holiday
20241 JanMonNew Year's Day
2 JanTueNew Year Holiday