It's a fair question, Kendall. I seem to remember from my long-ago past as a Renaissance Faire staff researcher that in 16th century Europe, the new year was celebrated on March 25. Not even the first of the month. Look up "New Year" in Wikipedia for a variety of dates celebrated by a variety of cultures. Here's what it says about March 25:

"In Annunciation Style dating the new year started on 25 March, the feast of the Annunciation. This was used in many parts of Europe in the Middle Ages, and was the style introduced by Dionysius Exiguus in AD 525. Annunciation Style continued to be used officially in the Kingdom of Great Britain until 1 January 1752, except Scotland which changed to Circumcision Style dating on 1 January 1600, the Act being passed on 17 December 1599.[18] The rest of Great Britain changed to Circumcision Style on the 1 January preceding the conversion in Great Britain from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar on 3/14 September 1752. The UK tax year still starts on 6 April which is 25 March + 12 days, eleven for the conversion from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar plus a dropped leap day in 1900."

Reading that page, it looks like we can blame January 1 on Rome.