2023-12-28 07:12:15
The world is gearing up to usher in the new year with new resolutions and hopes. After two more days, 2023 will leave and 2024 will return. Big events are planned for the New Year all over the world.
Ever wondered why the New Year begins on January 1st? In fact, decades ago, the calendar started on several dates, such as March 25 and December 25. So how did January 1 become New Year’s Day?
Many sources say that the Roman emperor Numa Pompilius is to be thanked for this. During his reign (c. 715-673 BCE) Numa reformed the Roman Republican calendar. So January was made the first month. This was a very appropriate decision as January is named following the Roman god Janus.
March is said to be named following Mars, the god of war (some sources claim that Numa made January the month).However, there is evidence that January 1 did not become the official start of the Roman year until 153 BC.
Julius Caesar introduced further changes in 46 BC. But January 1 was retained as the starting date of the year. With the expansion of the Roman Empire, the use of the Julian calendar spread. However, following the fall of Rome in the 5th century, many Christian countries changed the calendar. March 25 and December 25 are New Year’s Day in many places.
Later, many people started thinking that there should be a change in this calendar. Thus, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a revised calendar in 1582. In addition to solving the problem of leap years, the Gregorian calendar restored January 1 as the beginning of the new year. Countries including Italy, France and Spain quickly accepted the new calendar. But the Protestant and Orthodox countries showed some reluctance to accept it. Great Britain and its American colonies did not begin following the Gregorian calendar until 1752. They celebrated New Year’s Day on March 25.
Over time, non-Christian countries also began to use the Gregorian calendar. China (1912) is a notable example, although the Chinese New Year is celebrated according to the lunar calendar. In fact, many countries that follow the Gregorian calendar have other traditional or religious calendars.
All over the world New Year is celebrated with great pomp and show. The festive season starts on Christmas Eve and lasts until the New Year. On December 31, the midnight clock strikes twelve and the New Year celebrations begin. The celebration involves cutting the cake, decorating it with lamps and flying balloons.
Do you know which country welcomes the New Year first in the world? The Pacific islands of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati celebrate New Year first. In these countries, the New Year will begin at 3:30 PM Indian Time on December 31. Did you know that the uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands finally ring in the New Year? It is 5:30 pm on 1st January IST.
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