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The official [http://astro.nmsu.edu/~lhuber/leaphist.html calendar] used in most of the modern world today is the Gregorian Calendar, named after Pope Gregory. It is based on a standard year of 365 days with modifications to keep it consistent with the earth’s movement around the sun. It replaced the old Julian Calendar. | The official [http://astro.nmsu.edu/~lhuber/leaphist.html calendar] used in most of the modern world today is the Gregorian Calendar, named after Pope Gregory. It is based on a standard year of 365 days with modifications to keep it consistent with the earth’s movement around the sun. It replaced the old Julian Calendar, named after Julius Caesar who instituted it in 46 BC. | ||
The old Julian Calendar assumed the earth went around the sun in 365.25 days. | The old Julian Calendar assumed the earth went around the sun in 365.25 days. For this calendar to follow the earth’s movement, this rule was used - Every year that is divisible by 4 was made a leap year of 366 days, otherwise it was a standard year of 365 days. | ||
But in actual fact, the earth travels around the sun in 365.2425 days, about 11 minuets shorter than the old Julian Calendar accounted for. This discrepancy accumulated about 3 days short every | But in actual fact, the earth travels around the sun in 365.2425 days, about 11 minuets shorter than the old Julian Calendar accounted for. This discrepancy accumulated about 3 days short every 4 centuries. By 1582, the spring equinox was happening 10 days early on 11 March. | ||
The Catholic Church was very concerned because the celebration of Easter was figured from the spring equinox. As a result, on 24 February 1582 Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree (a papal bull) instituting a new calendar. | The Catholic Church was very concerned because the celebration of Easter was figured from the spring equinox. As a result, on 24 February 1582 Pope Gregory XIII issued a decree (a papal bull) instituting a new calendar. | ||
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Some countries (usually Catholic) adopted the Gregorian Calendar soon after the Pope issued the decree. Other countries (usually Protestant) ignored the Pope and continued with their own calendars. But gradually the advantages became apparent and most countries one by one have adopted the Gregorian Calendar. | Some countries (usually Catholic) adopted the Gregorian Calendar soon after the Pope issued the decree. Other countries (usually Protestant) ignored the Pope and continued with their own calendars. But gradually the advantages became apparent and most countries one by one have adopted the Gregorian Calendar. | ||
There is some uncertainty with people for the dates between 1 January and 25 March with the years from 1582 till the year the Gregorian Calendar was adopted. To avoid any confusion, write the date with both years numbers. For example - 14 February 1699/1700. At the time it would be considered 1699 according to the Julian Calendar, then in effect. But now it would be considered 1700 according to the Gregorian Calendar. Using the double dating and understand its purpose can be helpful in recording family historical events. | There is some uncertainty with people for the dates between 1 January and 25 March with the years from 1582 till the year the Gregorian Calendar was adopted. To avoid any confusion, write the date with both years numbers. For example - 14 February 1699/1700. At the time it would be considered 1699 according to the Julian Calendar, then in effect. But now it would be considered 1700 according to the Gregorian Calendar. Using the double-year dating and understand its purpose can be helpful in recording family historical events. | ||
A [http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/gregorian.html chart] which shows when countries changed from Julian to Gregorian and a [http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/ converter] that translates dates from a variety of calendars are among the tools available to navigate through this maze. Interesting historical reading about how a monarch's reign influenced the English calendar is found in the article [[Regnal Years in England]]. | A [http://www.searchforancestors.com/utility/gregorian.html chart] which shows when countries changed from Julian to Gregorian and a [http://www.fourmilab.ch/documents/calendar/ converter] that translates dates from a variety of calendars are among the tools available to navigate through this maze. Interesting historical reading about how a monarch's reign influenced the English calendar is found in the article [[Regnal Years in England]]. | ||
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| [[Scotland]] | | [[Scotland]] | ||
| 1600<ref name="Blackburn">Blackburn &amp;amp; Holford-Strevens (1999), p. 784.</ref><ref>John J. Bond, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=bzAWAAAAYAAJ&amp;amp;printsec=frontcover#PPR17,M1 Handy-book of rules and tables for verifying dates with the Christian era]'' Scottish decree on pp. xvii–xviii.</ref> | | 1600<ref name="Blackburn">Blackburn &amp;amp;amp; Holford-Strevens (1999), p. 784.</ref><ref>John J. Bond, ''[http://books.google.com/books?id=bzAWAAAAYAAJ&amp;amp;amp;printsec=frontcover#PPR17,M1 Handy-book of rules and tables for verifying dates with the Christian era]'' Scottish decree on pp. xvii–xviii.</ref> | ||
| 1752 | | 1752 | ||
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