Holiday detail
New Year's Day
New Year's Day opens the civil calendar with a national pause for family gatherings, rest, and fresh starts after the midnight salubong.
Quick facts
Meaning and traditions
New Year's Day marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar and is observed as a regular holiday in the Philippines. For many Filipino families, the meaning is practical and emotional at the same time: it is a reset after a loud media noche, a day to visit relatives, recover from late-night celebrations, and set intentions for work, school, and family life.
Common traditions include preparing round fruits, sharing food at midnight, making noise to welcome the year, and spending the morning with family. It is also one of the easiest holidays to plan around because it always falls on January 1, though its long-weekend value depends on the weekday for the proclamation year.
Long-weekend note
This holiday creates a 4-day weekend from January 1-4, 2026.
File leave on Jan 2 to make it a 4-day break.