Difference between revisions of "Gregorian Calendar"

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Contemporary calendar has began its existence in the cristian era, in 526, started by pope John I. The chronologist of the pope, Dionysius Exiguus, worked further on the calendar, especially concerning Easter.
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The '''Gregorian calendar''' is the [[calendar]] in contemporary use in most countries.
  
During the Middle Ages some problems were dscovered with the use of the Julian calendar: every century had 3 to 4 days to much days. In the sixteenth century the mistake reached 10 days. It is the reason of calendar reformation in 1582, by the pope Gregorius XIII. He decided that 4 October should be followed by 15 October at once. Also he decided that all of the leapyears of the full century years, which were not dividable by 400 would fall off. At this manner 1900 was not a leapyear, 2000 was a leapyear and 2100 will not.
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==History==
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The modern calendar began its existence in the Christian era, in 526, started by [[Pope]] John I. The chronologist of the Pope, Dionysius Exiguus, worked further on the calendar, especially concerning [[Easter]].
  
The average duration of the Gregorian year is  so 365.2425 days. The diffirence with the real tropical year (365.2422) is so small, that a new reformation will be needed in very, very far future.
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During the Middle Ages, some problems were discovered with the use of the [[Julian Calendar]]: every century had three to four days too many. In the sixteenth century the mistake grew to 10 days. Therefore, in 1582, it was decided that the calendar needed reform.  [[Pope]] Gregory XIII decreed that [[October 4]] should be followed by [[October 15]] at once. Also, he decided that all of the leap days of the full century years which were not dividable by 400 would be omitted. In this manner, 1900 was not a leap year, 2000 was a leap year, and 2100 will not be.
  
The Gregorian calendar was worked on by the Calabrian medicician Aloysius Lilius, as well as by the papal commissioner  C.Clavius, before it has reached the modern perfection.
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The average duration of the Gregorian year is 365.2425 days. The difference with the real tropical year (365.2422) is so small that a new reformation will be needed in very, very distant future.
  
The new calendar got in use very slowly:
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The Gregorian calendar was worked on by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, as well as by the papal commissioner C. Clavius, before it reached the modern usage.
  
- England and colonies (Northern America) in 1752;
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The new calendar came into use very slowly:
- whole Germany in 1776;
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* England and colonies (Northern America) in 1752;
- Sweden 1823;
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* Germany (as a whole) in 1776;
- Russia in 1918 (the difference with Julian calendar was already 13 days!)
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* Sweden in 1823; and
- In The Netherlands the calendar took its start at diffirent stages, in diffirent provinces.
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* Russia in 1918.
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* In The Netherlands the calendar took its start at different stages, in different provinces.
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==April Fool's Day==
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The historical record is not entirely clear, but it seems that April Fool's day was a direct result of the calendar change.
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It began in 1582 in France. Before that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on [[March 25]]. The celebration culminated on [[April 1]]. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to [[January 1]].
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However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes.
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This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French.
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==Use in the Orthodox Church==
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Certain Orthodox Churches follow the Gregorian calendar, even for the calculation of Pascha.  These include the [[Church of Finland]]<ref>[http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp The Calendar of the Orthodox Church] by Lewis Patsavos, Ph.D.</ref>, [[Church of Estonia (Ecumenical Patriarchate)|Church of Estonia]] under Ecumenical Patriarchate and certain parts of the [[Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]].
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==Source==
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*For April Fool's Day section: [http://wilstar.com/holidays/aprilfool.htm April Fool's Day]
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==Reference==
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<references />
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==See also==
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*[[Revised Julian Calendar]]
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[[Category:Church History]]
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[[Category:Liturgics]]
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[[ro:Calendarul Gregorian]]

Latest revision as of 08:54, March 24, 2011

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The Gregorian calendar is the calendar in contemporary use in most countries.

History

The modern calendar began its existence in the Christian era, in 526, started by Pope John I. The chronologist of the Pope, Dionysius Exiguus, worked further on the calendar, especially concerning Easter.

During the Middle Ages, some problems were discovered with the use of the Julian Calendar: every century had three to four days too many. In the sixteenth century the mistake grew to 10 days. Therefore, in 1582, it was decided that the calendar needed reform. Pope Gregory XIII decreed that October 4 should be followed by October 15 at once. Also, he decided that all of the leap days of the full century years which were not dividable by 400 would be omitted. In this manner, 1900 was not a leap year, 2000 was a leap year, and 2100 will not be.

The average duration of the Gregorian year is 365.2425 days. The difference with the real tropical year (365.2422) is so small that a new reformation will be needed in very, very distant future.

The Gregorian calendar was worked on by the Calabrian doctor Aloysius Lilius, as well as by the papal commissioner C. Clavius, before it reached the modern usage.

The new calendar came into use very slowly:

  • England and colonies (Northern America) in 1752;
  • Germany (as a whole) in 1776;
  • Sweden in 1823; and
  • Russia in 1918.
  • In The Netherlands the calendar took its start at different stages, in different provinces.

April Fool's Day

The historical record is not entirely clear, but it seems that April Fool's day was a direct result of the calendar change. It began in 1582 in France. Before that year, the new year was celebrated for eight days, beginning on March 25. The celebration culminated on April 1. With the reform of the calendar under Charles IX, the Gregorian Calendar was introduced, and New Year's Day was moved to January 1.

However, communications being what they were in the days when news traveled by foot, many people did not receive the news for several years. Others, the more obstinate crowd, refused to accept the new calendar and continued to celebrate the new year on April 1. These backward folk were labeled as "fools" by the general populace. They were subject to some ridicule, and were often sent on "fools errands" or were made the butt of other practical jokes.

This harassment evolved, over time, into a tradition of prank-playing on the first day of April. The tradition eventually spread to England and Scotland in the eighteenth century. It was later introduced to the American colonies of both the English and French.

Use in the Orthodox Church

Certain Orthodox Churches follow the Gregorian calendar, even for the calculation of Pascha. These include the Church of Finland[1], Church of Estonia under Ecumenical Patriarchate and certain parts of the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

Source

Reference

  1. The Calendar of the Orthodox Church by Lewis Patsavos, Ph.D.

See also