New Delhi: In many countries, the new year begins on January 1. However, there was a time when March 25 and December 25 were considered the first days of the new year. For centuries, the new year began on dates other than January 1. So, a question arises: since when did January 1 become New Year’s Day?
It all started with the Roman Republican calendar
According to Britannica, the Roman king Numa Pompilus revised the Roman Republic calendar during his reign from 715 to 673 BC. They decided to replace March with January as the first month of the year. It is believed that he made this decision because January was named after Janus, the god of all beginnings in Roman mythology, while March was named after Mars, the god of war.
However, evidence suggests that the year did not officially begin until 1 January 153 BC.
Changes introduced in the Julian calendar
The Roman general Julius Caesar made further changes to the Roman Republican calendar in 46 BC, after which the calendar became known as the Julian calendar. It retained January 1 as the first day of the new year. The use of the calendar spread with the expansion of the Roman Empire.
Christian countries changed the calendar after the fall of Rome
However, the calendar was changed in many Christian countries after the fall of Rome in the 5th century CE. This was done so that the calendar was more reflective of Christianity.
New Year’s Days became common on March 25, the day the Feast of the Annunciation is celebrated, and December 25, which is Christmas Day.
In Christianity, the Feast of Annunciation is the day on which the angel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she would be the mother of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated nine months before Christmas.
Gregorian calendar restored January 1 as New Year’s Day
The Julian calendar was not correct because of an incorrect approximation involving leap years. Since the error had been prevalent for many centuries, various events were celebrated in the wrong season.
Therefore, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a revised calendar in 1582, which became known as the Gregorian calendar. Through this calendar, he solved the problem with the leap year, and restored January 1 as the beginning of the new year.
Italy, France and Spain were among the countries that immediately began to follow the new calendar. However, Great Britain and their American colonies began to follow the calendar from 1757 onwards. Earlier, they used to celebrate New Year’s Day on 25 March.
There are some countries which have adopted the Gregorian calendar. For example, Ethiopia celebrates its new year in September.
In India too, many states and cultures celebrate their New Year’s Day on different dates. Baisakhi in North and Central India, Rongali Bihu in Assam, Vishu in Kerala, Poila Boishakh in Bengal, Tamil Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, and Bishuva Sankranti in Odisha – New Year’s Day according to the solar calendar – is celebrated on 13/14 April. 15.
Hindus in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana celebrate the new year as Ugadi in the month of March/April; Gudi Padwa in Maharashtra, Goa and Konkan regions; Cheiraoba in Manipur; and Navreh in Kashmir. Sindhi Hindus celebrate their new year Cheti Chand in April, while Bestu Varas is celebrated as New Year around October/November in Gujarat.
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