For most people, the first day of the year is January 1. But this was not always so. The ancientGreeks started their year on the first day of winter-Desember 21 or 22. The Romans began theiryear on March 1. Then they changed the calendar and moved the start of the year to January 1.
Many other countries also used January 1. But some went back to March 1, and others chose september 1. At one time , some Christian countries made December 25, Christmas, the first day of the year. And, about a thousand year ago, many nations switch to March 25.
At one time, a French King made Easter the first of the year. Another time, about two hundred years ago, the French moved the start of the year to September 22.
Even today, many people celebrate the first of the year on different dates. The Jewish New Year is on Tishri 1, between September 5 and October 5. And in the Russian Orthodox Church, the year starts on January 14.
In Iran, the new year begins on March 21. The Iranians call this No Ruz, which means “New Day”. And many Chinese living outside China celebrate the old Chinese New Year. It falls between January 21 and February 19.
There is nothing special about January 1. It really doesn’t matter when a year begins.
