In Colonial New England, March 25 was New Year’s day
Lunario Novo, Secondo la Nuova Riforma della Correttione del l'Anno Riformato da N.S. Gregorio XIII, printed in Rome by Vincenzo Accolti in 1582, one of the first printed editions of the new, Gregorian calendar.
From the New England Historical Society:
“In colonial New England, the new year did not start on Jan, 1. Not because the Puritans didn’t want people to have too much fun on New Year’s Eve. It was because England refused to go along with the rest of Europe in adopting the Gregorian calendar.
“The English year didn’t change until March 25, or Lady Day, when Christians celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin. So in 1620, John Winthrop’s father Adam wrote in his diary, ‘The new year beginneth,’ on March 25.’’
Ice sculpture on a Boston “First Night’’