For 2024
Although I believe the date is somewhat arbitrary...
Do people everywhere start the year on January 1? While many parts of the world do follow the Gregorian Calendar which was issued by Pope Gregory XIII in the year 1582, there are other calendars in use besides this one which is also called the “Christian” calendar. Most famous is probably the Chinese, and the year 4721 will start on February 10 — the Year of the Dragon. So — an early 恭喜发财, or Kung hei fat choi — “Congratulations and be prosperous”!
In Thailand, for example, the Buddhist calendar is still in use, as it is in other South-East Asian countries. B.E. (Buddhist Era) 2568 starts on January 25, 2024 or April 13, 2024, depending on whether you follow the Mahayana or Therawada calendar respectively; it’s rather complicated. And it becomes even more complex in India where more than 30 different calendars are in use… When I look at my old passports, I find various dates for the same two-year period.
One of the most peculiar calendars ever has got to be the French Revolutionary Calendar. Its year began with the autumnal equinox, and it had 12 months of 30 days each, with descriptive names such as “Snow”, “Rain”, and “Wind” (for December, January, and February respectively, which the English called mockingly: “Slippy”, “Drippy”, and “Nippy”). The month had three weeks, each ten days long, and the day was divided into ten hours, with 100 minutes adding up to one hour, and 100 seconds forming one minute. Instead of being named after one of the Catholic saints, each day had an animal, a tool, a plant, or a mineral associated with it. Accordingly, there was a Manure Day, a Coal Day, a Broccoli Day, and a Tuna Day, among others…
Not surprisingly, the calendar wasn’t popular, partly because people didn’t like ten-day work weeks. It was abolished in 1805, after some 13 years of use. Nevertheless –Happy Clay Day!
I’ll leave you with a German New Year’s tradition: Dinner for One, a British commedy short which was filmed in 1963 and airs every year on German and other European countries’ TV stations. You can skip the brief German introduction and start at 2:27, the rest is in English. It’s very funny, don’t miss watching it.
What a fascinating thing to learn about the clock based on the number ten. I am now reading a book about clocks and watches called "The Hands of Time" by Rebecca Struthers. Wonderful book. She's a clockmaker herself. Happy New Year to you Jessica. Wes
I am UNSURE, but I THINK that the Lunar New Year is celebrated in tandem with the Western New Year, if only for convenience sake.
& many Greek & Russian Orthodox Christians celebrate Western Christmas on 25 December as well as 6 January. At least my stepsister ( Gr. Orthodox ) does.
AND I believe the year on Mars is shorter or longer, but I'd have to do some fact - checking in case we start settling there.....