In the West (especially the Greeks and initially the Romans followed), the New year was celebrated in a combination of the phase of the Moon, with some standard Solar day. For example, the New Year in Athens was starting at the New Moon after the Summer Solstice.
When and how have we reached at the January 1st as the beggining of the year?
2006-06-19 17:55:35 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Early Roman calendar (something like a lunar calendar) dates from the date of founding the city of Rome in 753 B.C.
A year was having 304 days and ten months.
They were Martius, Aprlilis, Maiss, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, October, November and December.
The first four were named after Roman Gods and festivals. From the fifth onwards the months were named by their ranks in the calendar year.
Martius, Aprlilis, Maiss, Junius are respectively the months March, April, May, and June.
It is clear that the first March was the beginning of the year.
Latter on the two months Januarius and Februarius ( named after the God Janus and the purification feast Februa) were introduced.
The commencement of the year on January 1 became officially recognized in the year 153 B.C.
2006-06-19 18:44:10 · answer #1 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Pope Gregory initiated the Gregorian Calendar which we use in a modified form. This started the New Year on January 1st instead of April 1st - Usually the Summer Solstice. That is why April 1st is referred to as April Fool's Day. The early Christians condemned the lunar and solar calendars and ridiculed the Europeans who followed them as 'fools'.
2006-06-30 17:57:54 · answer #2 · answered by The One Line Review Guy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am beginning to study Wicca and that beleif goes by the moon phases and the new year actually begins on Halloween Night. I do not know how January 1st started being the first of the year
2006-07-01 16:29:37 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, since Earth is orbiting around Sun on an elliptical trajectory, it is closer (perihelion) one time and furthest another (aphelion).
We are at Aphelion around beginning of July!
We are at Perihelion, around the beginning of January!
I suppose that that this could be a reason for selecting New Year on January 1st!
2006-06-21 19:13:38 · answer #4 · answered by soubassakis 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no idea...better ask the person who invented it....oh wait he is dead....
2006-07-02 00:04:52 · answer #5 · answered by Love Exists? 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋