Holiday Closings

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 10:31 a.m.

New Year's Day has been celebrated as early as Sept. 21 (autumn equinox) and as late as June 21 (summer solstice), depending on the particular culture. In the Middle Ages, the holiday was observed on March 25 by the Julian calendar and was called Annunciation Day -- the day Mary learned she would give birth to Jesus Christ. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, New Year's Day moved to Jan. 1. However, it took some countries many years to switch observance dates. England, for example, did not observe Jan. 1 as New Year's Day until 1752. Here's what's open and closed New Year's Day Thursday and the day after:

* SAFETY: Police and fire emergency services as usual both days. Administrative offices closed Thursday, open Friday.

* UTILITIES: Closed Thursday, open Friday: Nevada Power Co., Sprint, Las Vegas Valley Water District, Southwest Gas, Prime Cable. NOTE: Southwest Gas drive-through window on West Tropicana Avenue open Thursday.

* GOVERNMENT: Closed Thursday, open Friday: Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Clark County, state, courts. Closed both days: Boulder City, federal offices, federal courthouse. NOTE: Boulder City is normally closed on Fridays; federal courthouse open Friday for filings only, no cases.

* SCHOOLS: Closed, no classes both days: Clark County School District, UNLV, Community College of Southern Nevada.

* MAIL: U.S. Postal Service and United Parcel Service offices closed, no deliveries Thursday; open, deliveries as usual Friday. NOTE: UPS also closed Wednesday.

* NEWSPAPER: SUN offices closed Thursday, open Friday. SUN published in combined morning edition with the Review-Journal on Thursday. SUN published independently Friday and delivered in the afternoon.

* TRANSIT: Downtown Transportation Center: open both days. No city trolleys in operation on Thursday, regular route Friday. Citizen Area Transit: weekend-holiday schedule (peak-hour buses will not be in operation) on Thursday, regular schedule Friday. NOTE: CAT buses on fixed routes are free from 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday.

* LIBRARIES: Closed Thursday, open Friday: Las Vegas-Clark County District, Henderson District, Boulder City Municipal. Closed both days: North Las Vegas District. NOTE: Clark County-Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City libraries will close early on Wednesday.

* GARBAGE: Silver State Disposal pickups as usual both days. Offices closed Thursday, open Friday.

* MATRIMONY: Marriage License Bureau open 24 hours, starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, closing at 12 a.m. Friday.

* FINANCES: Banks and brokerage firms closed Thursday, open Friday.

* ZOO: Southern Nevada Zoological and Botanical Park closed Thursday, open Friday.

* PARKING: City parking metered spaces free Thursday.