Old New Year’s Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Despite being predominantly a religious holiday, the New Year is steeped in history due to its association with the creation and adoption of the Gregorian calendar.

Old New Year’s Day was celebrated on March 25, and some countries still observe this tradition. Despite the fact that the Gregorian calendar was established in 1582, several countries rejected it for centuries. Instead, they adopted the “Annunciation Style date,” which regarded the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25) as the first day of the year. Dionysius Exiguus introduced the ‘Anno Domini’ calendar, and celebrations began in multiple locations on that day. Dionysius chose March 25 as the new year because Jesus would be conceived on the Annunciation, nine months prior to Christmas.

The background of Old New Year’s Day

Despite being predominantly a religious holiday, the New Year is steeped in history due to its association with the creation and adoption of the Gregorian calendar. When the early Romans devised their calendar, there were only ten months, with March being the first. The practise of starting the new year in January extends back less than 400 years!

In Mesopotamia, the New Year was celebrated around the vernal equinox, which occurred on March 25 around 2000 B.C. There were less than 10 months remaining at the time. The calendar at the time was based on the seasons, and March marked the beginning of planting season. Consequently, it was selected as the first month of the year. Considering that March is the first month of the year, it was only natural to name the seventh month (September in Latin) “septem,” the eighth month “octo,” the ninth month “novem,” and the tenth month “decem.”

The Romans began commemorating the New Year on the first of January. Around 700 B.C., Numa Pontilius, the second governor of Rome, added the months of January and February to the calendar. The newly elected Roman consuls began their one-year terms of office at this time, hence the beginning of the year. Julius Caesar created the Julian calendar in 46 B.C., with January as the first month of the year. It was a significant improvement over the previous Roman lunar calendar, which was based on the movements of the moon. Subsequent research demonstrated that the lunar calendar was grossly inaccurate.

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OLD NEW YEAR’S DAY ACTIVITIES

Prepare a substantial meal

Similarly to New Year’s Day, the best method to celebrate Thanksgiving is by preparing large meals with family and friends. Sharing traditional cuisine from wherever you are is an excellent method to do so.

Attend a live music concert.

Live music is one of the best methods to celebrate the Old New Year’s Day, just as it was New Year’s Day. Live music is what makes an occasion memorable.

Cheers to the New Year!

A few celebratory drinks can considerably enhance the festive atmosphere. Therefore, hoist a toast to the ‘new year’

5 FACTS REGARDING NEW YEAR

Julius Caesar was the first person to establish January 1 as a national holiday.

45% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions; the most popular resolutions include weight loss, organization, spending less and saving more, remaining fit and healthy, and quitting smoking.

The Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Persians began their new year on the autumnal equinox, whereas the Greeks did so on the winter solstice.

During celebrations of the new year, Americans ingest approximately 360 million glasses of sparkling wine.

A million people gather in New York City’s Times Square to watch the ball drop, which was devised in response to a ban on fireworks.