To all the scholars, atheist, historians, debaters etc. Is there really 12 mths in a year? Is Jan.the first?

Answer 1

1. There are approximately 365¼ days in a tropical year. How they are divided into periods (usually called months) is relative.
a) There are just over 13 lunar months in a tropical year.
b) Most of the world uses a 12-month Gregorian calendar (365 97/400 days or 365.2425 days).
c) The Chinese and Hebrew years have 12 months (353, 354, or 355 days), but 13 months (383, 384, or 385 days) in a leap year.
d) The Islamic year consists of 12 lunar months (354.36 days).
e) The Ethiopian year has 13 months - 12 months of 30 days and 1 month of 5 days (6 in a leap year).
f) The Bahai year 19 months of 19 days plus 4 Intercalary Days (5 in a leap year).

2. There is a similar variation regarding the first day of the year. Most countries use 1st January; in Ethiopia it is 11th September; the Chinese year starts on dates that vary from year to year; no country seems to use the winter solstice (21st December usually).

3. You can read up on all this at the following website, which is expressed in clear straightforward terms for the non-scientific reader.
http://webexhibits.org/calendars/index.html

Answer 2

I gota go with Steven C.

Answer 3

Yes. Look at a calander.