Was New Year's Day a holy day of obligation?

[Novel]

My parish reminded us to attend New Year’s Day Mass and said that it’s our duty as a holy day of obligation. On that day, I went to another church locally for that Mass because of the weather. When I arrived at the right time, the church was closed. I called their directory and mentioned this to the priest that answered. He told me that New Year’s Day is not a holy day of obligation. So, may I ask, who is right?

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

So, may I ask, who is right?

Both. Your parish was right to say that January 1 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God) ordinarily is a holy day of obligation. The priest you spoke with was right that it was not a holy day of obligation this year. For some of the holy days of obligation, including January 1, they are not days of obligation when they fall on Saturday or Monday (this year January 1 fell on Saturday). And, in the case of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, some bishops in the U.S. choose to dispense the holy day of obligation for their diocese in years when the solemnity does not fall on Saturday or Monday.