why is it that january 1st marks the beginngng of the year?

Question

i no that the earth starts at that spot in the solar system and finishes at that spot a year later but y couldnt april 1st be it cuz there would basically b the same out come

Answer 1

Because the US uses the Gregorian calendar. The Gregorian calendar uses the same start date as the old Julian (Roman) calendar. January 1st was chosen rather arbitrarily based on the dates of several religious holidays.

"Originally observed on March 15th in the old Roman Calendar, New Year's Day first came to be fixed at January 1st in 153 BC, when the two Roman consuls, after whom - in the Roman calendar - years were named and numbered, began to be chosen on that date, for military reasons. However in AD 525, Dionysius Exiguus set the start of the Julian calendar at March 25th[citation needed] to commemorate the Annunciation of Jesus; a variety of Christian feast dates were used throughout the Middle Ages to mark the New Year, while calendars often continued to display the months in columns running from January to December in the Roman fashion.

Among the 7th-century druidic pagans of Flanders and the Netherlands it was the custom to exchange gifts at the New Year, a pagan custom deplored by Saint Eligius (died 659 or 660), who warned the Flemings and Dutchmen, "[Do not] make vetulas, [little figures of the Old Woman], little deer or iotticos or set tables [for the house-elf, compare Puck] at night or exchange New Year gifts or supply superfluous drinks [another Yule custom]." The quote is from the vita of Eligius written by his companion Ouen.

Most countries in Western Europe officially adopted January 1st as New Year's Day somewhat before they adopted the Gregorian calendar. This is sometimes called Circumcision Style, because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day counting from December 25th."

Answer 2

It doesn't really matter where you start the year [although 1st March would make things much easier for calculating things]. The Roman calendar started in January and although there's been a lot of attempts for other starts, it won out probably [like VHS over Beta] because it was first.

As to why January 1st is at the time it is, The Council of Nicaea decreed 21 March was the proper day for vernal equinox (in C.E. 325), and the calendar was adjusted to make it so.

Answer 3

Convention.

It used to start in March in England, then we changed it

Answer 4

As you know, the Chinese new year is in February. Just as our Gregorian calendar's new year, it is arbitrary but it makes sense, somewhat, to have it around the winter solstice since it is the shortest (in the northern hemisphere) day of the year. The idea that the 'sun was born again and rising' must have made sense in the past.

Answer 5

It take 1 year (365.25 days) to revolve around the sun no matter what date you start. (you will end up in the same spot) Thats how they made the calender.

Answer 6

because after december 31 we have no other choice but to begin a new year as we are out of months.. so we start over,,,
lol its based on the old roman calander days,