Why is January 1st the World Day of Peace?

Everyone celebrates the arrival of the new year in an atmosphere of celebration and renewal. It is a day when peace is celebrated between the people we love and are close to, but there is more history behind it.

On January 1st, we celebrate the world peace day (or simply Peace Day), whose date is also a world holiday – as the name suggests. But do you know why this day exists? Come here and we’ll explain the origins to you.

First of all, let’s understand the origin of this celebration of the “year to come”. Peace is a feeling of harmony with other people, and the relationship between human beings and time has always been one of admiration and gratitude. More than 2000 years ago, the Babylonian people celebrated the beginning of the year only in March, due to the arrival of spring in the northern hemisphere.

It was at this time that they returned to farming and this moment became known as the restart of life. The Romans later defined the 1st of January as the symbolic date of this renewal of life, the New Year🇧🇷 In 1582, it was inserted into the Gregorian calendar, promulgated by Pope Gregory XIII🇧🇷

It was only in 1967 that World Peace Day was officially instituted by the Pope Paul VIcoming into effect in 1968. This year in question was marked by a lot of violence, such as the Vietnam War, a conflict that left thousands dead.

message about peace

From the critical situation the world was going through, the Pope decided to establish a worldwide celebration aimed at peace among people, hence the World Day of Peace. The idea was for humanity to celebrate the beginning of a new cycle without new conflicts happening.

So that this concept would not be lost, the religious leader also instituted that, each year, a theme related to peace would be launched on January 1st. To this day, this tradition is respected and there are already 42 themes in total.

For this occasion, the Pope elaborates the message and reveals it to everyone. Currently, under the leadership of Pope Francis, the phrase for the 52nd World Day of Peace – the New Year 2019 – has already been presented: “Good politics is at the service of peace”🇧🇷

See the themes released from 2000 to 2018:

“Peace on earth to men whom God loves” (2000)

“Dialogue between cultures for a civilization of Love and Peace” (2001)

“There is no peace without justice, there is no justice without forgiveness” (2002)

“Pacem in Terris: a permanent commitment” (on the 40th anniversary of John XXIII’s encyclical) (2003)

“An ever present commitment: educating for Peace” (2004)

“Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, overcome evil with good” (2005)

“Peace Indeed” (2006)

“The Human Person, heart of Peace” (2007)

“Human Family: Community of Peace” (2008)

“Fighting Poverty, Building Peace” (2009)

“If you want to cultivate peace, preserve creation” (2010)

“Religious Freedom, Path to Peace” (2011)

“Educating young people for Justice and Peace” (2012)

“Blessed are the Peacemakers” (2013)

“Fraternity, Foundation and Path to Peace” (2014)

“No longer slaves, but brothers” (2015)

“Overcome the difference and conquer peace” (2016)

“Non-violence: style of a policy for peace” (2017)

“Migrants and Refugees: Men and Women in Search of Peace” (2018)