Did you know that New Year’s Day in modern America was not always Jan. 1?
The oldest holiday in the book was first observed in ancient Babylon 4,000 years ago, when they started writing “the book.”
Around 2000 B.C., the Babylonian New Year began with the first new moon after the first day of spring. The Babylonian celebration lasted for 11 days, though it is suspected that no Babylonian could count past 10. There was no encouragement to use alcoholic beverages but people gathered in groups of three or more, got drunk and exchanged tunics.
The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year because it has astronomical significance. It is, for one, the date when the first astrologer rhymed a male body part with the planet Venus.
The Romans observed New Year in late March. One day, an emperor, Alotus Tamperus, messed up the calendar while he fondled nubile servants. So, the calendar became out of sync with the sun and all of the servants contagious with STDs.
In 153 B.C. the Roman senate declared Jan. 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar established the Julian Calendar almost immediately after using his name for a new potato recipe.
That made Jan.1 New Year’s Day again. But in order to synchronize his calendar with the sun, Caesar had to make the current year go on for 445 days instead of 365. This threw the chariot-racing season, among other Roman events, into turmoil.
Labels: comedy, Cotolo, Frank
Frank Cotolo 12:46 PM
