Nyttår

Nyttår is the term used for the New Year in Norwegian Bokmål and Danish, referring to the calendar date 1 January and to the holiday celebrated on that day. A closely related form exists in Swedish as nyår. The word is a compound of words meaning “new” and “year,” with origins in Old Norse and other Germanic languages.

The New Year on 1 January follows the Gregorian calendar. The shift from older dating systems was completed in the Nordic countries during the early modern period, aligning civil New Year with January 1. Before this, some regions marked the new year at different times according to local calendars, and celebrations varied widely.

In contemporary practice, New Year’s Eve (nyttårsaften/nytårsaften/nyårsafton) is typically celebrated with gatherings, meals, music, and late-night toasts. At midnight, fireworks and toasts mark the arrival of the new year. January 1, New Year’s Day, is often a holiday for family meals, rest, and public or religious ceremonies in some communities.

Customs differ by country and region but commonly include public celebrations, broadcasts of countdowns, and personal reflections or resolutions for the coming year. The term nyttår appears in Norwegian and Danish, while “nyår” or similar forms are used in related Nordic languages.