31 December is New Year’s Eve. Image: Pixabay
It’s New Year’s Eve, so let’s take a look at the history of the holiday and some good luck traditions from around the world
31 December is New Year’s Eve. Image: Pixabay
New Year’s Eve is celebrated on 31 December, this is the day when we reflect on the year that has passed and celebrate the coming of the new year.
The Gregorian calendar year ends on 31 December, which is also known as New Year’s Eve.
The majority of the ancient world used a variety of various calendaring systems to keep track of time before the Gregorian calendar became the accepted global standard.
Pope Gregory XIII authorized the introduction of the Gregorian calendar by the Vatican in Rome in October 1582.
The ancient Roman calendar, which was based on the lunar cycle of the earth’s moon, was supplanted by the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the solar year.
On the advice of Greek astronomer and mathematician Sosigenes of Alexandria, Roman Emperor Julius Caesar instituted the Gregorian calendar during his rule in the year 44 B.C.
It is a modified version of the Julian calendar.
A few days had to be dropped in order to make the change from a lunar cycle calendar to a solar year calendar on 4 October 1582.
Pope Gregory so designated 15 October 1582, to be the day following 5 October 1582.
The pope also ruled that each year would officially begin on 1 January rather than 1 April as had been the practice under the old lunar calendar system on 4 October 1582, along with the installation of a new calendar.
This choice was made in response to an old festival honoring the Roman god Janus, who was the god of beginnings and doors, despite having no genuine astronomical basis.
On a new calendar, January 1 looked like a wonderful day to start fresh.
Many people have their own traditions to bring them luck on New Year’s Eve/ Day.
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