Happy New Year! (for Canadian teams)

Happy New Year! Observed on January 1, this holiday marks the first day of the New Year of the Gregorian calendar. While celebrations around the dawn of a new year date back to ancient Babylonian days, the recognition of January as the New Year comes courtesy of Julius Caesar, when he implemented the Julian calendar, which recognized the start of the New Year on January 1—a tradition that continues today (even though society now uses the Gregorian calendar).

One of the hallmarks of New Year’s celebrations is the parties—which generally start on New Year’s Eve, December 31. Many Canadians come together in homes, restaurants, or bars to reminisce about the year that’s past and toast the year to come with their friends, families, and loved ones. Many towns and cities also host big New Year’s celebrations—including Toronto, which traditionally kicks off the New Year with a large fireworks display.

But not every Canadian is kicking off the New Year with a party. Other traditions include New Year’s Eve ice fishing (a common tradition in more rural areas) as well as a New Year cold plunge—as January 1 is also “Polar Bear Plunge Day” in Canada, where people are encouraged to jump into their nearest (and coldest!) body of water as a way to kick off the New Year and raise money for charity.

How we’re celebrating the New Year

We’re excited to kick off the New Year! While we’ll be closed on New Year’s Day, here are some of the upcoming events we have planned to celebrate the end of an amazing year and the start of an even more amazing year to come:

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