The TRAVELER'S JOURNAL: January first, observing new year's day.

This is first day of the first month of the 2002nd year of the Gregorian calendar. It also starts the year 2048 of the Julian period, which was established by Julius Caesar back in what is now 46 B.C.

Actually, though perfectly natural now, January first has been observed as New Year's day for only 250 years. Before the British Calendar act of 1751, the new year was generally celebrated at the vernal equinox in late March, which certainly makes sense from a seasonal point of view.

At any rate, January first now ranks as the world's most widely-celebrated holiday, observed in 133 nations, from Albania to Zimbabwe, though in a few places, the day has extra meaning. It's Independence Day in Haiti, Anniversary of the Triumph of the Revolution in Cuba and Founding Day in Taiwan. Russian tradition calls for decorated New Year's trees, parties and gifts for children, delivered by Grandfather Frost and Snow Girl, his granddaughter. Parades will be staged in the streets of London, Paris and other European capitals, especially in those places where today the Euro becomes legal tender.

There will be parades in this country as well. In Philadelphia, the Mummers will march up Broad Street, with their spectacular costumes and string bands. In Pasadena, New Year's day means a celebration of roses, followed by a football game. Football frenzies in half a dozen other southern cities will keep many of us glued to our TV sets. Others will leap into icy rivers or run in marathons. May will visit relatives, or just stay home, relax, recover from last night's festivities and figure out how to keep their resolutions. But no matter how you choose to observe the day, we wish you a prosperous New Year, one full of many joyous journeys.

For American Information Radio, I'm David Bear.

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