Years used to start in March, and days at noon

[LittleSister]

I never knew that.


'. . . the Julian calendar was superceded by the Gregorian calendar in Great Britain and the British Empire including the eastern colonies of North America (for a year following September 1752). . .

Before 1751 in England (1600 in Scotland), the [numerical, calendar] new year began on Lady Day, 25 March. From the end of 1750 the new year began, as now, on 1 January.

Other countries adopted the Gregorian calendar and changed the date of the new year at other times, usually before the British usage. . .

In common British maritime usage until October 1805, the new day began at noon, twelve hours ahead of the land day. . . be aware of this dichotomy when quoting dates from ship’s logs in this period – particularly Masters’ logs. . .'
Style Guide - Global Maritime History

 

[sgr143]

Before 1751 in England (1600 in Scotland), the [numerical, calendar] new year began on Lady Day, 25 March. From the end of 1750 the new year began, as now, on 1 January.

I think that that is why the tax year starts on 6th April. It's Lady Day (the old New Year) shifted to compensate for the days that had to be "lost" when we changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.

[edit - and so it is: see : Calendar (New Style) Act 1750 - Wikipedia ]

 

[Adios]

Its all arbitrary which is why I have never been one to get over excited by new years eve. Chinese and Islamic years are lunar so about 11.5 solar months, and the Islamic new day starts at sunset.

 

[Sandy]

I can never understand why the new year does not start at the winter solstice.

 

[lustyd]

Because the Christian church didn't want to acknowlege earlier beliefs, probably.

 

[sarabande]

The Pharaonic Egyptian day ran from sunset to sunset, with 12 hours of night and 12 hours of day. Which is why they had variable rate clepsydras.

It meant that hour lengths changed through the year, but that rituals could take place at the same 'time'.

 

[LittleSister]

they had variable rate clepsydras.

Sounds nasty!

 

[Frank Holden]

Up into the 1930s some ships were still resetting their clocks to 1200 at local apparent noon each day.
This why Norie's Tables has a Day's Run -Average Speed Table with the day's run and the length of the day as arguments yielding the day's average speed..
'Length of the day' runs from 22 hours to 26 hours ..... speeds to 40 knots!!

Dirt dwellers had no real need for accurate time until they invented trains and needed railway timetables.

When Darwin visited Castro, Isla Chiloe, in the 1830s there was not a clock in the town ... they simply relied on a chap with 'a good idea of time'.

 

[st599]

The early Roman calendar had 10 months lasting 304 days. There was no way of referencing the other 61 mid-winter days as the weather was crap and no-one did anything.

Then the Caesars got involved and started naming months after themselves and shifting days between months as they wanted more in their month etc.