Victorian celebrations of the New Year often mirrored celebrations of Christmas. Traditions such as wassailing the apple trees, first-footing (ensuring that the first person to set foot in one's house was of a "lucky" type), and many others might be celebrated on either date (or both!). Since Ephiphany was celebrated on January 6, the first of January was included in "the twelve days of Christmas." January 1 was not actually considered the first day of the year in England until the official switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1751. Even by the beginning of the 20th century, New Year's postcards were more likely than Christmas postcards to have images we'd considered "Christmassy" today.

New Year's Day in the Vosges (Cassell's Family Paper, 1860)

Part of the celebration in this French region was the erection of a great New Year's tree - part Christmas tree, part Maypole - that was believed to protect the town throughout the year.

The New Year's Table (Demorest, 1873)

How to decorate the table for the holiday.

New Year in Japan (Demorest, 1879)

New Year's Day in Japan is actually the 6th of February. On that day you'll find door mats whitened with rice powder to look like snow, and pine or bamboo trees bound with rice-straw garlands and decked with oranges and gilded paper.

New Years Receptions (Demorest, 1879)

Recipes for a New Year's dinner and reception.

New Year's Receptions - Recipes (Demorest, 1880)

Suggestions for hosting a New Year's party, along with a look at how such social events have changed in "recent" years.

A New Year's Day in Japan (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1883)

The New Year, by Laura Willis Lathrop (Ingalls' Family Magazine, 1888)

Recipes for New Years' festivities, with some interesting notes on New Year's customs and folklore.

New Year's Day, by Tighe Hopkins (English Illustrated Magazine, 1895A)Newlsetter

New Year's Eve, by Nora Chesson (Girl's Own Paper, 1902)

Some of the winter traditions that were shared between Christmas and New Year's, including the essential task of wassailing the apple trees!