Ah - So that's why new years day is on Jan 1st

[homie]

I've always thought new years day should be on 21st December because that's when the days start getting longer again. But I've just noticed that it's actually 1st Jan that the mornings start getting lighter again, in Europe at least, and I imagine most of the Northern hemisphere.

So although the day length in total starts getting longer on 21st Dec its not until Jan 1st that the mornings reverse and start getting lighter. In pre-Christian Rome, the day was dedicated to Janus, god of gateways and beginnings, for whom January is also named, marking the start of new beginnings.

So I guess that's why the Romans made it Janus's day and why new year's day ended up being put where it is.

Happy Janus Day to all.

P.s - the Chinese were way off.

 

[Jon]

ALL PRAISE JANUS!!!

 

[The Reverend]

ALL PRAISE JANUS!!!

samantha?

 

[Kimilsung]

I've always thought new years day should be on 21st December because that's when the days start getting longer again. But I've just noticed that it's actually 1st Jan that the mornings start getting lighter again, in Europe at least, and I imagine most of the Northern hemisphere.

So although the day length in total starts getting longer on 21st Dec its not until Jan 1st that the mornings reverse and start getting lighter. In pre-Christian Rome, the day was dedicated to Janus, god of gateways and beginnings, for whom January is also named, marking the start of new beginnings.

So I guess that's why the Romans made it Janus's day and why new year's day ended up being put where it is.

Happy Janus Day to all.

P.s - the Chinese were way off.

So your a paigon? To me, its just another lunar cycle. Dunno what's the hype about.

 

[Petlamb]

Like, you could get super solipsistic about it all, why does the name of anything matter etc? Christmas is just Christian rebranding of Pagan festivals anyway? Buuut given that the world is a rough place to be, I really endorse people finding joy and happiness in whatever they like.

But in 2019 I think I'd like to work on connecting with nature and my faith a bit more.

 

[Kimilsung]

Like, you could get super solipsistic about it all, why does the name of anything matter etc? Christmas is just Christian rebranding of Pagan festivals anyway? Buuut given that the world is a rough place to be, I really endorse people finding joy and happiness in whatever they like.

But in 2019 I think I'd like to work on connecting with nature and my faith a bit more.

True. They changed christmas and commercialised it. Seems christmas is more about selling and buying stuff now then the whole helping people vibe that i thought it was about. Even easter, isn't that meant to be about Jesus? Did he have a pet rabbit that layed chocolate eggs? Haha.

 

[Petlamb]

Again, a holiday that really has merged aspects from other faiths. Many celebrate spring, fertility (eggs and rabbits included), then that kind of merges into the celebrations of Jesus. Plus, apparently christmas and easter used to be rather more rowdy, so the "rebrand" was welcomed.

Of course, perhaps things go so full circle that we have black eye friday right before christmas!

 

[Kimilsung]

Again, a holiday that really has merged aspects from other faiths. Many celebrate spring, fertility (eggs and rabbits included), then that kind of merges into the celebrations of Jesus. Plus, apparently christmas and easter used to be rather more rowdy, so the "rebrand" was welcomed.

Of course, perhaps things go so full circle that we have black eye friday right before christmas!

Haha... Black eye friday?

 

[Petlamb]

I'm not sure if it's just a north east thing, but "black eye friday" is what we call the last friday before christmas. A lot of people go out drinking and there are a lot of fights!

 

[Kimilsung]

I'm not sure if it's just a north east thing, but "black eye friday" is what we call the last friday before christmas. A lot of people go out drinking and there are a lot of fights!

Aah. I get it now. Makes sense. I'm from north west