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Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere). Any other thoughts?
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Originally posted by TeinosukeI would propose the Vernal Equinox, as this has been used earlier. (That's why the word 'November', meaning 'ninth month' is our seventh month in our calendar.)
Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere).
The Vernal Equinox is the time when the sun traverses the Equator going north.
Why not propose 4 weeks, equal 28 days, throughout the year, having as many leap days as needed for each particular year to start the new year with teh first of the first month too, and a Monday too, while we're at it.
But what we have is good enough. It's an akward system, but we're used to it. It takes too much effort to change the annual system.
Originally posted by TeinosukeIsn't the winter solstice just as arbitrary as January 1st? What's the "objective significance"?
Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere). Any other thoughts?
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Originally posted by TeinosukeI think progressives would consider April 15, tax day, as their celebrating day. Of course, it would be somewhat bitter sweet since they all realize that no matter the tax rate, it will never be high enough. :'(
Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere). Any other thoughts?
As for the winter solstice, that sounds a bit too paganish for my taste. 😠
Originally posted by whodeyI don't know about new years but let's rename April 1st to April Whodey day.
I think progressives would consider April 15, tax day, as their celebrating day. Of course, it would be somewhat bitter sweet since they all realize that no matter the tax rate, it will never be high enough. :'(
As for the winter solstice, that sounds a bit too paganish for my taste. 😠
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Originally posted by KazetNagorraWell, it has a direct significance for human beings as the date when the nights stop getting longer and start getting shorter again. Seems less arbitrary than January 1st anyway. The Spring Equinox, as proposed by FabianFnas, would also have a comparable significance, of course - but of the solstices and equinoxes, going with the Winter Solstice moves New Year's Day least from the current reckoning, which is desirable if you start messing about with something as fundamental as the calendar.
Isn't the winter solstice just as arbitrary as January 1st? What's the "objective significance"?
Originally posted by whodeyI think the Winter Solstice as New Year would suit the Christian calendar as well though - it would make Christmas the first festival of the new year, rather than the last of the old year, and this would be fitting given the symbolism of Christ bringing light into the darkness and hope to the world.
As for the winter solstice, that sounds a bit too paganish for my taste. 😠
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Originally posted by whodeyActually, there is an interesting story in that. Until 1752, the start of the fiscal year in Britain was March 25 - Lady Day - long considered the start of the ecclesiastical year. In 1752, Britain converted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar and so skipped eleven days from the calendar (September 2nd was followed by September 14th). People were thus faced with the prospect of paying a full year's tax from only 354 days' earnings. To avoid this, the start of the tax year was shifted forward eleven days to April 5th. From 1800, when February 29th was skipped in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, the tax year shifted forward one more day to April 6th. No comparable shift occurred in 1900, so April 6th remains the start of the British fiscal year.
I think progressives would consider April 15, tax day, as their celebrating day. Of course, it would be somewhat bitter sweet since they all realize that no matter the tax rate, it will never be high enough.
Legend has it that when the calendar changed in 1752, mobs thought eleven days had been stolen from their lives, and stormed through London chanting "Give us back our eleven days". But they were probably just prototypical whodeys protesting about excessive taxation.
Originally posted by TeinosukeThe reason that New Years is the best day to celebrate is because it comes right after Christmas. Face it, people would rather have a holiday week/weeks, than just one day out of the month.
Actually, there is an interesting story in that. Until 1752, the start of the fiscal year in Britain was March 25 - Lady Day - long considered the start of the ecclesiastical year. In 1752, Britain converted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar and so skipped eleven days from the calendar (September 2nd was followed by September 14th). People were thu ...[text shortened]... days". But they were probably just prototypical whodeys protesting about excessive taxation.
Give it up man!! 😠
Originally posted by TeinosukeIt's January 1st because I SAID SO!😠
Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere). Any other thoughts?
Originally posted by TeinosukeI think New Years should be moved to the 2nd of January because the streets of the south east Asian city where I live get so crowded on the evening of the 31st December and then, making it worse, most of the shops are closed on the 1st January.
Couldn't we find a more logical date to celebrate the New Year? I propose December 21st, the winter solstice, which would have an objective astronomical significance: the New Year would begin when the days start getting longer again (or shorter, in the Southern Hemisphere). Any other thoughts?