New Year's Day *
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Somalia 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. In 2027, New Year's Day falls on Friday 1 January. The holiday will be on Saturday 1 January in 2028. Note: New Year’s Day is observed in Somaliland only. 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. Somalia does not observe Christmas as a national holiday, but people do observe 21 December as December Solstice Day. The period between December solstice and 1 January becomes a generally festive time of year.
History
Somalia 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. In 2027, New Year's Day falls on Friday 1 January. Note: New Year’s Day is observed in Somaliland only. New Year’s Day is a time of resolutions and starting fresh for some, while for others it is spent recovering from a big,
How It's Celebrated
Somalia 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. The holiday will be on S