January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Here a calendar year means the order in which the months are displayed, January to December. January 1 was usually not the first day of the medieval Julian year. January 1 was adopted as the first day of the Julian year by all Western European countries except England between about 1450 and 1600. The Gregorian calendar as promulgated in 1582 did not specify that January 1 was to be either New Year's Day or the first day of its numbered year. Although England began its numbered year on March 25 (Lady Day or Anunciation Day) between the 13th century and 1752, she called January 1 New Year's Day and regarded it as a holiday when gifts were exchanged during the same period. There are 364 days remaining (365 in leap years).
