Ireland Dates and Calendars
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Online Resources[edit | edit source]
Background[edit | edit source]
Pre-Christian Era (Before 5th century AD)[edit | edit source]
- Celtic Calendars: Like other Celtic groups, the Gaels in Ireland used lunisolar calendars aligning with lunar cycles and the solar year.[1]
- Seasonal Focus: These calendars marked important agricultural and cultural events, with the year often divided into seasons or other timeframes based on various factors like agricultural activities and astronomical observations.[2]
Christianization and the Julian Calendar (5th century - 1752)[edit | edit source]
- Arrival of Christianity: In the 5th century, Christianity introduced the Julian calendar system, a solar-based system, to Ireland alongside the adoption of Christian holidays and feast days.[3]
- Coexistence: The Julian calendar coexisted with some elements of the traditional Gaelic calendar, particularly in rural areas.[4]
- Month Names: While the structure of the year aligned with the Julian calendar, Irish adopted distinct names for months, many of which remain in use today but are not direct translations of their Latin counterparts.[5]
The Gregorian Calendar and Modernization (1752 - Present)[edit | edit source]
- Adoption of the Gregorian Calendar: In 1752, Ireland, then part of the British Empire, adopted the Gregorian calendar reform to address inaccuracies in the Julian calendar.[6]
- Standardization: This adoption solidified the Gregorian calendar as the official system for Ireland, aligning it with neighboring countries.[7]
- Cultural Persistence:' Despite the standardized calendar, elements of the traditional Gaelic calendar and its month names continue to hold cultural significance in Ireland, often celebrated alongside official holidays.[8]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Ó hÉallaithe, Finola. Irish History in 100 Objects. Gill & Macmillan, 2010. (This source provides information on the pre-Christian calendar and its connection to the natural world.)
- ↑ Ó hÉallaithe, Finola. Irish History in 100 Objects. Gill & Macmillan, 2010. (This source provides information on the pre-Christian calendar and its connection to the natural world.)
- ↑ Waugh, Evelyn. Irish Names and Places. Gill & Macmillan, 2018. (This source details the adoption of the Julian calendar alongside Christianity and the use of distinct Irish month names.)
- ↑ Waugh, Evelyn. Irish Names and Places. Gill & Macmillan, 2018. (This source details the adoption of the Julian calendar alongside Christianity and the use of distinct Irish month names.)
- ↑ Waugh, Evelyn. Irish Names and Places. Gill & Macmillan, 2018. (This source details the adoption of the Julian calendar alongside Christianity and the use of distinct Irish month names.)
- ↑ "Calendar (New Style) Act 1752," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_(New_Style)_Act_1750, accessed February 29, 2024. (This source specifies the adoption date of the Gregorian calendar in Ireland.)
- ↑ "Calendar (New Style) Act 1752," Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_(New_Style)_Act_1750, accessed February 29, 2024. (This source specifies the adoption date of the Gregorian calendar in Ireland.)
- ↑ Ó hÉallaithe, Finola. Irish History in 100 Objects. Gill & Macmillan, 2010. (This source provides information on the pre-Christian calendar and its connection to the natural world.)