Although in
the first centuries AD the Romans continued celebrating the new year, the
early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as
Christianity became more widespread, the early church began having its own
religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and
New Year's Day was no different. New Years is still observed as the Feast of
Christ's Circumcision by some denominations.
During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New
Years. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for
only about the past 400 years.
