As the clock strikes midnight and fireworks light up the sky, people around the world come together to welcome the New Year on January 1. The start of a new year represents joy, strength and optimism for a better future.
January 1 was first observed as the start of the new year in 45 BC. Before that, the Roman calendar began in March and lasted 355 days. After coming to power Julius Caesar changed the calendar. In part to honour the month's namesake, Janus the Roman God of Beginnings whose two faces allowed him to look forward into the future as well as backwards into the past, made January 1 the first day of the year.
However, it wasn't widely accepted in Europe until well into the middle of the 16th century. After the introduction of Christianity, December 25, the day of Jesus' birth, was accepted and January 1 the start of the new year, was considered heathen. It wasn't until Pope Gregory changed the Julian calendar to make January 1 the official start of the year that it became accepted.
No comments:
Post a Comment