So, Why January 1st? A Micro History Lesson

At least one source asserts the earliest record of a new year festival comes to us from Mesopotamia, some four thousand years ago. It marked the vernal equinox, so took place in mid-March. It appears the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and the Persians began their new year with the fall equinox in September, while the Greeks liked the winter solstice at the end of December. The Chinese New Year is a celebration of the Spring, although the date is arrived at through a complex mix of lunar and solar calendars. Indian cultures never arrived at a unified recognized new year, which is true for the bulk of the world’s cultures.

Leaving room for someone with good marketing skills…

It appears the earliest celebration of the new year on January 1st took place in Rome in 153 before the common era. However the beginning of March continued as a major alternative for a very long time.

But it was Julius Caesar, who could market better than just about anyone (read his Commentaries on the Gallic Wars if you doubt this…) whose calendar began on January 1st who began the roll that continues to this day. Even with the 1582 Gregorian reform the 1st remained the beginning.

Not that it was a smooth progression. The Council of Tours in 567 denounced the pagan origins of the January 1st new year and abolished its observation. In the free for all, March and particularly March 1st emerged as the major alternative.

But gradually the March alternative began to fade, and by the middle of the Eighteenth century the 1st of January became the standard dates observed throughout all of Europe and within their colonies around the globe, and slowly, slowly and with some serious objections continuing, the 1st of January has become our world marker for the turning of the year. Even the Chinese adapted, like Jewish tradition and some others, celebrating both dates…

So, thank you, Julius!

And so, now, pagan, Christian, and all others, enjoy your ancient and new year!

The great world mashup…

And…

One more turn in the great spin within the great night…