FTD New Year

The New Year celebrations signifies the first day of the year. There are several calendars that exist :

New Year in the Grogorian calendar : January 1st
New Year of the Julian calendar : January 1st
New Year of the Roman calendar : March 1st
New Year of the Chinese calendar : between January 20th and February 18th
New Year of the Ancient Egyptian calendar : July 19th (during the flooding of the Nile)
New Year of the Persian calendar : March 21st (spring solstice)
New Year of the Universal calendar : January 1st

New Year of the Universal calendar : January 1st

Originally pagan, the New Year was created 46 years before our era ruled by Julius Cesar who decreeded that January 1st would be the day of the new year. The Romans celebrated the New Year according to the Julian calendar, they dedicated this festival to the god Janus, who was said to have two faces, one facing forward and the other facing backward.

In France, the New Year has not always been celebrated on January 1st. It is only since 1564 that King Charles IX fixed the start of the year on this date. During the VI and VII century, in many provinces of France, the New Year was celebrated on March 1st. Under Charlemagne, the year began at Christmas, and on Easter Day when governed by the Capetian Kings.
The years were therefore very variable in legth. This parctice was almost generalized in XII, XIII and XV century in some provinces. Because the beginning of the year varried by province, Dec.25th in Lyon, March 25 in Vienna, it was a real headache for Frances' kings genealogist who had to take into account the dates depending on the place to keep record of history. The edict of Charles IX would reunite everyone.
In 1622, this edict was passed by the pope to the whole Catholic world in Order to simplify the calendar of religious holidays.

In Quebec, the New Year is an occasion for great celebration, relatives and friends gather on the Eve of New Years' for a memorable evening of dancing, eating, sharing etc. Tourtieres and pork leg stews are classic recepes for the New Year holiday.

And above all we must not forget our New Year resolutions !
Have you thought of yours ?