New Year's Day 2025
Date: January 1, 2025 (Wednesday)
Country: Georgia Public Holidays
Description
New Year s Day in Georgia is the day people mark the start of a new calendar year. It is a time when people think about fresh starts, new plans, and the year ahead.
The holiday always takes place on January 1. It follows New Year s Eve, so celebrations and official observances move from the last day of December into the first day of January.
New Year s Day is a public holiday in Georgia. Government offices, many businesses, and banks are closed or operate on limited hours. Schools and public services often give people a day off.
The day is important because it marks a clear new beginning on the calendar. It is a moment for reflection on the past year and for hopes about what the next year will bring.
On a national level, New Year s Day helps people feel connected. It is a shared date that brings a sense of unity and offers a pause in normal routines for rest and planning.
Traditions
In Georgia people celebrate New Year with loud family feasts. Homes fill with songs and toasts led by a tamada. Families gather around big tables to share plates and tell stories late into the night.
Traditional foods include khachapuri cheese bread, roasted meats, salads, and satsivi poultry with walnut sauce. Sweet pastries and fruit are served. Everyone drinks wine or chacha and raises many short toasts for good fortune.
Some Georgians take part in Alilo, a church procession where people sing carols and carry icons. Others set up a chichilaki, a small shaved walnut tree decorated with sweets and candles that is later burned to chase away bad luck.
Neighbors and children visit each other to exchange small gifts and sweets. Old songs, blessings, and fireworks help mark a joyful start to the new year.
Travel Tips
Many shops, banks, and some museums close or run reduced hours on New Year s Day. Book trains, buses, and restaurants early. Expect busy roads at midnight and late morning as people travel. Carry cash and a charged phone in case cards fail.
Join official public events in well lit, staffed areas and stay near crowds you trust. Keep a safe distance from private fireworks and follow police instructions. Know the local emergency number and your hotel address. Plan quieter activities like a park walk or a city viewpoint visit.