It’s a brand-new year, but not for everyone because some billions of people are yet to begin with theirs. That’s because January 1 isn’t the start of the year for them.
Furthermore, there are other calendars besides the international Gregorian calendar. And so, many countries use separate means to classify seasons and time.
Read on to learn why there are different new-year dates.
The Origin of the Gregorian Calendar?
The Gregorian calendar is the global standard for the representation of dates and times. This calendar came into existence in October 1582, during the reign of the Roman Empire. It depends solely on the revolution of the earth around the moon (a tropical year) and is divided into 12 months. Almost all the countries use it, and it’s the standard for international trade and communication.
Why There Are Different New Year Dates
Many cultures and religions use different calendars, often along with the Gregorian calendar. This results in them having different first dates for the new year. First, let’s see how timelines were defined in ancient times.
Historical Factors
The present calendar traces back to ancient civilizations. In the old days, they had unique systems for measuring agricultural seasons and time for spiritual activities.
Ancient Mesopotamia
The New Year’s celebrations, “Akitu,” were celebrated by the Babylonians in ancient Mesopotamia. Records trail it to around 4,000 years ago. Akitu was to mark the beginning of the agricultural cycle, and their calendar was based on the moon (lunar). It’s still celebrated in April in present-day Iraq and Syria.
Ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptians take credit for the oldest documented calendar. However, the exact inventor is still a subject of dispute. The calendar is aligned with astronomical predictions pointing to the status of the earth as it revolves around the sun. It also had a fixed 365 days and was useful in tracking the seasons and agricultural cycles.
Besides this solar calendar, they also maintained a lunar calendar. It helped them accurately predict the significant flooding of the Nile River during the Egyptian New Year. This flooding was important because it ensured the fertility of their farmlands in the coming year.
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Ancient Rome
The Roman Empire is responsible for the different New Year dates we have today. However, not in the wrong way. They developed the Gregorian calendar, which was introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII and made January 1 the first day of the year.
The first Roman calendar rested on the cycle of the moon (lunar), which didn’t align with the solar year. To correct this, Julius Caesar championed a new calendar in 46 BC called the Julian calendar. Still, the Julian calendar needed to be more precise, and that was how the Gregorian calendar came about. Due to its global influence at the time, other countries gradually adopted this calendar.
Ancient China
The New Year’s Date in ancient China was set during the Han Dynasty (202 BC–220 AD). They used a combination of the moon and the sun to measure time and date. They reconciled their association with the earth, basing it on lunar months and solar years (lunisolar-based). This calendar is still in use today for religious dates and other celebrations.
Also Read: Why is Chinese Not One Language but More?
Religious Factors on Different New Year Dates
Religion plays a key role in determining new-year dates because many faiths have their specific calendars.
Here are some new years associated with religions.
Chinese New Year
About 1.5 billion ethnic Chinese mark the Chinese New Year every year. Also called the Lunar New Year, it falls on February 10, 2024. It has gained popularity across the globe, making it the next most popular New Year celebration.
Jewish New Year
The Jewish New Year is also known as Rosh Hashanah, and it begins on October 2. This date is set in the Jewish calendar (also called the Hebrew calendar), which is a lunisolar calendar.
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Orthodox New Year
The Orthodox New Year falls on January 14 and is also known as the Old New Year. This date relies on the Julian calendar and is still upheld by many orthodox faithful around the world.
Ethiopian New Year
The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash is on September 11 or 12 (leap years) in Ethiopia and Eritrea. This calendar is solar-based, like the Julian and Coptic calendars, but it is not the same.
Islamic New Year
Also known as the Hijri New Year, it falls on July 6 or 7 and is observed by Muslims all over the world. It comes from the Islamic calendar, and the exact date is subject to the sighting of the moon and is lunar-based. This shouldn’t be mistaken for the Solar Hijri or the Persian calendar that is in use in Iran and Afghanistan.
Yoruba New Year
The Yorubas in Nigeria, part of Benin, and Togo begin their year on June 3 in the Gregorian calendar. They dedicate it to worshiping their ancestors and seeking blessings for the new year. The Yoruba calendar centers on lunar months with varied changes in the moon.
Sikh New Year
The Sikh New Year is derived from the Nanakshahi calendar, which is a lunisolar calendar. It is also called Baisakhi and is celebrated by the Sikhs on April 13 or 14.
Geographical Factors on Different New Year Dates
The ancient Chinese have long exerted their influence in East Asia and across the Asian continent. The same applies to the lunar new year and calendar but with some religious affiliations.
The lunar new year shares the same date with Tet, the Vietnamese new year; Seollal for the Koreans; and Tsagaan Sar for the Mongolians. Losar, which is the Tibetan fall between February 10th and 12th, 2024.
The Balinese in Indonesia have theirs as Nyepi on March 11–12. The Cambodian Khmer and the Thai Songkran are on April 13.
Compliment All New Years
The Gregorian calendar has come a long way in standardizing times and seasons, and only four countries have yet to adopt it. However, having different New Year dates enhances global diversity.
Now that you know cultures that don’t celebrate New Year on January 1, it’s good to regard and felicitate with them.
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