A look at a new year

By Brandie Majeau
Is there ever a pause, a reflection between December 25 and December 31,
where there is a contemplation of why the New Year in most countries begins on
January 1? Historically, this was not always the date. The new year was marked by the
winter solstice, December 25, the spring equinox…so what happened?
King Numa Pompilius of Rome is partly responsible. He reformed the Roman
calendar around 715–673 BCE, changing January to be the first month instead of
March. January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, while March
honors Mars, the god of war. However, January 1 did not officially become the start of
the Roman year until later.
In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, which kept January 1
as the New Year. As the Roman Empire expanded, so did the use of the Julian
calendar. After Rome fell in the 5th century CE, many Christian countries changed their
calendars to reflect their beliefs. This led to March 25 (Feast of the Annunciation) and
December 25 (Christmas) becoming popular dates for New Year’s.
The Julian calendar had mistakes in calculating leap years, causing dates to shift
over the centuries. This created issues with seasonal events and the date of Easter. To
fix this, Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar in 1582, which corrected
leap year calculations and restored January 1 as New Year’s Day. Countries like Italy,
France, and Spain quickly adopted it, but Protestant and Orthodox nations did not.
Great Britain and its American colonies continued to celebrate New Year’s on March 25
until 1752.
Over time, non-Christian countries also began using the Gregorian calendar. For
example, China adopted it in 1912 but still celebrates the Chinese New Year based on a
lunar calendar. Many countries following the Gregorian calendar also have their own
traditional or religious calendars. Some nations, like Ethiopia, celebrate their New Year
(Enkutatash) in September.
The history of calendar systems is an intricate web woven with complexity and
intrigue, one that cannot be fully captured in a brief overview. The information preceding
merely scratches the surface of humanity’s long and varied relationship with
timekeeping and the passage of years. For those curious enough, there is a vast world
of knowledge waiting to be explored—a journey into the depths of how we perceive and
measure time.
Many individuals themselves adhere to unique cultural traditions and personal
beliefs, celebrating the arrival of the new year in harmony with nature’s rhythms,

particularly when the earth stirs awake from its winter slumber. This diverse array of
practices highlights the unique ways in which different cultures honor renewal and
beginnings. Regardless of one’s individual beliefs and customs, the sentiment remains
universal: Happy New Year!