Since 46 BC, most countries in the world have used the Julian calendar. However, in 1582, by the decision of Pope Gregory XIII, it was replaced by Gregorian. That year, the next day after the fourth of October was not the fifth, but the fifteenth of October. Now the Gregorian calendar is officially adopted in all countries except Thailand and Ethiopia.
Reasons for adopting the Gregorian calendar
The main reason for the introduction of a new chronology system was the movement of the vernal equinox, depending on which the date of the celebration of Christian Easter was determined. Due to discrepancies between the Julian and tropical calendars (the tropical year is the period of time during which the sun completes one cycle of changing seasons), the day of the vernal equinox gradually shifted to earlier dates. At the time of the introduction of the Julian calendar, it fell on March 21, both according to the accepted calendar system and in fact. But by the 16th century, the difference between the tropical and Julian calendars was already about ten days. As a result, the vernal equinox no longer fell on March 21, but on March 11.
Jewish calendar - 5781
Almost all calendars follow some period or cycle. The Jewish calendar does not have this logic. New Year can only come on a certain day of the week. Also, a year can have either 12 or 13 months, and the days in a month can also be chosen based on completely different criteria. The New Year is considered to be the creation of Adam by God on the sixth day of the week.
Photo: pexels.com
The history of the creation of the Gregorian calendar
Scientists paid attention to the above problem long before the adoption of the Gregorian chronology system. Back in the 14th century, Nikephoros Grigora, a scientist from Byzantium, reported this to Emperor Andronicus II. According to Grigora, it was necessary to revise the calendar system that existed at that time, since otherwise the date of Easter would continue to shift to a later and later time. However, the emperor did not take any action to eliminate this problem, fearing protest from the church.
Subsequently, other scientists from Byzantium also spoke about the need to switch to a new calendar system. But the calendar continued to remain unchanged. And not only because of the rulers’ fear of causing indignation among the clergy, but also because the further the Christian Easter moved away, the less chance it had of coinciding with the Jewish Passover. This was unacceptable according to church canons.
By the 16th century, the problem had become so urgent that the need to solve it was no longer in doubt. As a result, Pope Gregory XIII assembled a commission, which was tasked with carrying out all the necessary research and creating a new calendar system. The results obtained were displayed in the bullet “Among the most important”. It was she who became the document with which the adoption of the new calendar system began.
Julian and Gregorian calendars - differences
The main disadvantage of the Julian calendar is its lack of accuracy in relation to the tropical calendar. In the Julian calendar, all years that are divisible by 100 without a remainder are considered leap years. As a result, the difference with the tropical calendar increases every year. Approximately every century and a half it increases by 1 day.
The Gregorian calendar is much more accurate. It has fewer leap years. In this chronology system, leap years are considered to be years that:
- divisible by 400 without remainder;
- divisible by 4 without a remainder, but not divisible by 100 without a remainder.
Thus, 1100 or 1700 years in the Julian calendar are considered leap years, since they are divisible by 4 without a remainder. In the Gregorian calendar, from those that have already passed since its adoption, 1600 and 2000 are considered leap years.
Immediately after the introduction of the new system, it was possible to eliminate the difference between the tropical and calendar years, which at that time was already 10 days. Otherwise, due to errors in calculations, an extra year would accumulate every 128 years. In the Gregorian calendar, an extra day occurs only every 10,000 years.
Interesting facts about world calendars
On February 14, 1918, the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Russia. In connection with this, all dates subsequent to this event began to be marked “according to the old style” and “according to the new style.” However, there were not two of these styles in Russian history, but more.
Why is the sun better than the moon?
In the world practice of normalizing the cyclical flow of time, there are two types of calendars: solar and lunar. The first links the annual cycle to the movement of the sun, the second - to the moon. There is also a lunisolar calendar, which calculates the length of the year using more complex formulas.
However, you need to know that none of the existing calendars is ideal. From year to year, a small error accumulates in each of them, which after several decades gives or, on the contrary, “eats” one day. This is predetermined by the fact that the Earth does not complete a full revolution around the Sun in a whole number of days.
True, this circumstance does not bother lunar calendars; they are not tied to annual seasons. In connection with this, the New Year according to the lunar calendar shifts by almost 12 days every year. So the Chinese setting off their signature fireworks on the occasion of the next New Year can do this over a wide time range.
Great periods of the pharaohs
The smartest in terms of the invention of the calendar, as well as the very first in the history of mankind, were the ancient Egyptians. The solar calendar they invented to this day underlies the chronology of the Western world. At the same time, they took the heliacal rising of Sirius, that is, the rising of this star immediately before sunrise, as the beginning of the annual cycle. Astronomers poetically call this phenomenon “sunrise in the rays of dawn.”
The ancient Egyptians had a year of 365 days. While its actual duration was approximately 365.25 days. But, since this calendar did not have leap years, that is, correction years, the constantly accumulating error led to the fact that after 1460 years the calendar “returned to normal.” The Egyptians, however, were not at all embarrassed by this circumstance. They called the period of 1460 years the great year of Sirius.
Emperor's Imperative
The name of the months we use was introduced by the ancient Romans at the turn of the 7th and 6th centuries BC. True, July and August then had different names. Later they acquired their current form in honor of the emperors Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus. But the year began in March, not in January.
In 45 BC. Yuri Caesar reformed the calendar, and it received the name Julian. It was this calendar that existed in Russia until February 14, 1918.
The Julian calendar is not much different from the current Gregorian calendar. It has 12 months. The number of days in months is exactly the same. In January, March, May, July, August, October and December - 31. In February - 28. In other months - 30. Once every 4 years, in a leap year, an additional day is added to February. Thus, the length of the year is 365.25 days. It would seem that you can live according to this calendar and be happy.
As dad commanded
However, in reality, the length of the Julian year is less than 365.25, by about 11 minutes. And these minutes add up from year to year, increasing the error.
Naturally, Pope Gregory XIII did not cope with this problem completely and not fully. In the Gregorian calendar he approved, the length of the year is 365.2425 days. The reduction of the annual cycle by 0.0075 days was achieved by reducing the number of leap years. That is, the years 1600, 2000, 2400, 2800, etc. are declared non-leap years.
The reform was carried out in Catholic countries on October 4, 1582. After October 4th came October 15th. Thus, the 10-day error that had accumulated since the introduction of the Julian calendar was removed. When it came to reforming the Russian calendar, the error was already 13 days.
However, we were not the most conservative. Greece switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1924, Turkey in 1926, Egypt in 1928. Ethiopia and Thailand still live according to the precepts of Julius Caesar. And also the Russian Orthodox Church. In this connection, Christmas comes not before, but after the new year.
It should be noted that Peter I introduced the Julian calendar in Russia in 1700, when the Gregorian calendar was already in use in Europe. Before that, since 988, we used the Byzantine calendar. The New Year began on March 1st. And the cycle, in essence, was Julian. But the chronology was carried out from the “creation of the world.” That is, the year 988 was the 5508th for us. And before that, in Ancient Rus', the calendar was lunisolar, terribly confusing. There were 4 seasons of the year. And every 19 years, 7 additional days were added.
The Gregorian calendar is also not perfect. Its annual error is 0.000305 days. It could be further reduced if one leap year were removed every 4,000 years. But who now thinks about such gigantic periods?
East is a delicate matter
Lunar calendars, in fact, are ritual, that is, they belong to the cultural heritage of certain countries. Since all the countries of the East, which are characterized by close attention to the behavior of the night star, synchronize their lives with the rest of the world according to the Gregorian calendar. That is, the meeting of the Eastern Year in China and Japan is, in fact, our Maslenitsa, a reason to celebrate.
But, of course, lunar calendars continue to play an important role in various religions.
The oldest eastern calendar is Chinese. It, like the “Western calendar,” has been adjusted several times. Now it is lunisolar. That is, the error accumulates for several years due to the fact that 12 lunar cycles are equal to 354 days. And then an additional month is added, the thirteenth. After which the error accumulates again.
The Chinese calendar as it has come down to us has a 60-year cycle. It is a combination of 10-year cycles called "heavenly trunks" and 12-year "earthly branches." The celestial trunks refer to various elements, colors, planets, and seasons. Under the earthly branches are animals. As a result of the intersection of trunks and branches, a “floating” matrix is obtained, the laws of which can only be comprehended by a person with an Eastern mentality. We are told that the year of the turquoise wooden horse has arrived, and we take it on faith.
North Korean self-pride
All calendars take either the creation of the world as their starting point, which, of course, is very subjective, or the birth of Jesus Christ. However, sometimes there are exceptions to this rule. During the French Revolution, a calendar was developed that counted down time from September 22, 1792, when the Republic was proclaimed. At the same time, instead of a week, a 10-day ten-day period was introduced. Each month consisted of exactly three decades. And the 5-6 day additions were on their own; they did not relate to any month. It is quite clear that the names of the months were replaced with revolutionary ones. This calendar did not last long - on January 1, 1806, Napoleon abolished it.
The North Korean calendar lasted longer, and is still in effect in the DPRK today. It takes 1911 as the starting point - the year of birth of Kim Il Sung, who has the following official titles: Great Leader, Sun of the Nation, Iron All-Conquering Commander, Marshal of the Mighty Republic, Pledge of the Liberation of Mankind.
But at the same time, the Gregorian calendar is also taken into account. And the official date is as follows: February 14, 103 of the Juche era (2014).
How the Gregorian calendar was adopted in different countries
Not all modern states adopted the new chronology system immediately. The Catholic states were the first to switch to it. In these countries, the Gregorian calendar was officially adopted either in 1582 or shortly after the decree of Pope Gregory XIII.
In a number of states, the transition to a new calendar system was associated with popular unrest. The most serious of them took place in Riga. They lasted for five whole years - from 1584 to 1589.
There were also some funny situations. So, for example, in Holland and Belgium, due to the official adoption of the new calendar, after December 21, 1582, January 1, 1583 came. As a result, the inhabitants of these countries were left without Christmas in 1582.
Russia was one of the last to adopt the Gregorian calendar. The new system was officially introduced on the territory of the RSFSR on January 26, 1918 by decree of the Council of People's Commissars. In accordance with this document, immediately after January 31 of that year, February 14 came on the territory of the state.
Later than in Russia, the Gregorian calendar was introduced only in a few countries, including Greece, Turkey and China.
Peter I rejuvenated Russia by 5 thousand years
Bending the Swedes: how Peter I managed to defeat the strongest army in the world
Why the Battle of Poltava forever changed the fate of Russia
Lenin reduced 13 days, Gregory XIII took 10, and Peter I - 5507 years. On December 15, 7207 from the creation of the world, or 1699 from the birth of Christ, a decree was issued according to which after December 31 of the current year, 7207, January 1, 1700 would occur. And it, and not September 1, as before, should be considered the beginning of the year.
Usually this decision of Pyotr Alekseevich is explained in the same way as the introduction of the Gregorian calendar: Russia was trying to become closer to Europe. And it fits logically into the row of shaved beards, curled wigs and sailing fleets.
But there is another, slightly more conspiracy theory. Peter just really enjoyed Catholic Christmas. His decree was issued just a year after the Great Embassy - a large trip across Europe, during which Peter traveled incognito. He celebrated Christmas in Holland and, upon returning, realized that he would like to celebrate the same way - with Christmas trees and fireworks.
feces
Tsar Peter the First introduced chronology “from the Nativity of Christ”, and not from the creation of the world
Photo: RIA Novosti/Valentin Cheredintsev
Not long before that, there had been a Streltsy riot, and a change in the canon of celebrating Christmas could once again excite the people. But the appearance of a new holiday, especially such a colorful one, would be accepted more easily. So, next to Christmas, another holiday appeared. And it was ordered “as a sign of good beginnings and joy, to congratulate each other on the New Year, wishing prosperity in business and in the family. In honor of the New Year, make decorations from fir trees...”
There was also a political meaning to this. The chronology from the creation of the world was introduced in 988 by the Byzantine Emperor Vasily II, and by the time of the reign of Peter I this empire had not existed for two and a half centuries. But in living Europe, which Peter loved so much, they thought differently. And the New Year was celebrated on January 1, and not on September 1, as was customary since the founding of the Moscow State in the 15th century. Moreover, it was not only in Europe that the years from the “birth of Christ” were counted.
Author of the quote
“It became known to the Great Sovereign not only in many European Christian countries, but also among the Slavic peoples who agree with our Eastern Orthodox Church in everything, [such as] the Volokhi, Moldavians, Serbs, Dalmatians, Bulgarians and His very The subjects of the Great Sovereign, the Cherkasy people and all the Greeks, from whom our Orthodox faith was adopted - all those peoples... count their years from the Nativity of Christ eight days later, that is, from the 1st of January, and not from the creation of the world ... "
Photo: RIA Novosti/Alexey Boytsov
Cover of the General Russian Calendar published by the partnership I.D. Sytin for 1910
New Year's birthday: how the holiday was celebrated under Peter I
In December 1699, an official imperial decree set the celebration on January 1
It took quite a long time to get used to the chronology “from the Nativity of Christ”, and not from the creation of the world. And even before the end of Peter’s reign, two dates were written (one in parentheses). It took even longer to get used to the new holiday. After the death of Peter, celebrations with Christmas trees were forgotten. And they remembered, or rather, re-borrowed from Europe already in the 19th century thanks to the German princesses, who, due to the high mortality rate of their husbands, became empresses.
The Gregorian calendar and the Orthodox Church
After the official adoption of the new chronology system, Pope Gregory XIII sent a proposal to Constantinople to switch to a new calendar. However, she was met with refusal. Its main reason was the inconsistency of the calendar with the canons of celebrating Easter. However, later most Orthodox churches switched to the Gregorian calendar.
Today, only four Orthodox churches use the Julian calendar: Russian, Serbian, Georgian and Jerusalem.
Rules for specifying dates
In accordance with the generally accepted rule, dates falling between 1582 and the moment the Gregorian calendar was adopted in the country are indicated in both the old and new styles. In this case, the new style is indicated in quotation marks. Earlier dates are indicated according to the proleptic calendar (i.e., a calendar used to indicate dates earlier than the date the calendar appeared). In countries where the Julian calendar was adopted, dates before 46 BC. e. are indicated according to the proleptic Julian calendar, and where there was none - according to the proleptic Gregorian calendar.
