THE month of January, as we know of in modern times, has always marked the beginning of the new year. However, was this always the case?
Is it true that it was initially the final month of the year?
Verdict:
TRUE
January was not always considered the first month of the year. The concept of a standardised calendar did not exist until relatively recently in human history.
In ancient Rome, the year began in March. This was because the Roman calendar, which was based on the lunar cycle, originally had only 10 months.
January and February were later added by the Roman king Numa Pompilius around 700 BCE, but they were placed at the end of the year.
It was not until the arrival of the Julian calendar in 45 BCE, which was based on the solar year, that January was officially designated as the first month of the year.
This change was not adopted universally, however. The ancient Egyptians had a calendar that began in June, and the ancient Chinese calendar began in the winter.
Even after the adoption of the Julian calendar, the start of the year was not always January in different parts of Europe.
The Anglo-Saxon calendar began in April, for example, and the French Republican calendar, which was used during the French Revolution, began in September.
It was not until the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582 by the Catholic countries of Europe that January was definitively established as the first month of the year.
This calendar, which is still in use today, made some slight adjustments to the Julian calendar to better align with the solar year.
References:
1. https://www.instonebrewer.com/TyndaleSites/Egypt/ptolemies/chron/roman/chron_rom_intro_fr.htm
2. https://www.webexhibits.org//calendars/calendar-roman.html
