New Year Honours

The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, with New Year's Day, 1 January, being marked by naming new members of orders of chivalry and recipients of other official honours. A number of other Commonwealth realms also mark this day in this way.
The awards are presented by or in the name of the reigning monarch, currently or his vice-regal representative. British honours are published in supplements to the London Gazette.
Honours have been awarded at New Year since at least 1890, in which year a list of Queen Victoria's awards was published by the London Gazette on 2 January. There was no honours list at New Year 1902, as a list had been published on the new King's birthday the previous November, but in January 1903 a list was again published, though including only Indian orders until 1909. There were also no honours issued in 1940, due to the outbreak of the Second [World War] in September 1939.
Australia discontinued its New Year Honours in 1989, and now announces its honours on Australia Day, 26 January, and the King's Official Birthday holiday, in early June.