Tomorrow should be New Year's Day

I often wonder why the new year begins when it does.

It should begin at the point the sun is reborn and days begin to get longer.

Doesn't that make sense? Why ten days later?

I'm sure there's a logical reason, which I've never gone into.

But it seems completely arbitrary.

a reply to: CJCrawley

I think it has to do with the lunar calendar, but yes the new year is today

originally posted by: CJCrawley
It should begin at the point the sun is reborn and days begin to get longer.

Doesn't that make sense? Why ten days later?

But it seems completely arbitrary.

If you want "reborn" that would be the Spring Equinox, the "resurrection.' coincidence? of course not. Many societies of the past used that as the beginning of the new year. January 1st is not exactly arbitrary. The day represents the circumcision and naming of Jesus in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.

a reply to: CJCrawley
It is because tomorrow is not the end of a month, and for that you can thank the Romans. All arranged by Julius Caesar.

originally posted by: CJCrawley
I often wonder why the new year begins when it does.

It should begin at the point the sun is reborn and days begin to get longer.

Doesn't that make sense? Why ten days later?

I'm sure there's a logical reason, which I've never gone into.

But it seems completely arbitrary.

Days get shorter from now on. So the sun is dying from now on and reborn on the 21st of june.


At least when You are at the Southern hemisphere.

a reply to: CJCrawley

Couldn't tell ya. But if you were born in Korea, you would be one year older than you are right now.

Perception, it's a funny thing.

a reply to: CJCrawley

if we used a solar callender - tommorrow would be new tears day - but we do not - so it isnt - get over it

I would say the 21st March should be New Year's Day, the Spring Equinox.

The zodiac calendar starts with Aries and this commences on the 21st March.

Shift the calendar forward 30 days, then add two days to February and take one day away from December and one day away from January. Then New Year would be on December 1 and Dec. 21st would be the Winter Solstice...and the month of December would be leap year also (alternating between 30 and 31 days). Feb would always have 30 days as would January).

Much more straight forward.

Oh...and STOP messing around with Daylight Savings Time!!!!!

a reply to: Dumbass

Ah yes, the old southern hemisphere. The achilles' heel of my little theory.

...or perhaps not.

It would be an inconvenience for a mere 20% of the world population.

Nowhere on the planet should celebrate Christmas Day with a barbecue on the beach anyway.

It's just wrong.

a reply to: schuyler
a reply to: Cobaltic1978

No, that would be starting the new year a quarter of the way in.

It makes more sense to start with the sun's rebirth.

We've almost got it right; just not quite.

originally posted by: CJCrawley
a reply to: schuyler
a reply to: Cobaltic1978

No, that would be starting the new year a quarter of the way in.

It makes more sense to start with the sun's rebirth.

We've almost got it right; just not quite.

Based on what? We've already covered this. The fact is that many societies historically have chosen the Spring Equinox as the beginning of the new year, the "Resurrection." To them, THAT is the rebirth of the year. Why? Because the Spring Equinox is a reliable indicator of when farmers ought to plant, when Spring begins. The winter Solstice doesn't give you that.

And you now what? There is no right answer here. Insisting on one is stupid.

nvm

a reply to: schuyler

Based on what?

Based on daylight hours, I suppose. The sun's 'birth', if you will.

Based on the seasons, yes, the start of spring has a logic to it.

My point though is that, although in Western culture NYD appears to be based on the idea of the sun's rebirth, it doesn't fall on the day after winter solstice, as logic would suggest, but 10 days later.

I was asking why that is the case.

many societies historically have chosen the Spring Equinox as the beginning of the new year

Various dates have been chosen for various reasons.

I think some of the old calendars or Eastern calendars threw out approx those ten days prior to Julian calendar.

But yeah, it makes sense to start a new year on the solstice However, the actual coldest and warmest time of year are a month after solstice.