[Ansteorra] Happy New Year - maybe

[Galen of Ockham via Ansteorra]

January first as the date for ringing in a new year goes back to the Roman Empire, but it was not consistently practiced throughout the Middle Ages. For example,

"If we suppose a traveler to set out from Venice on 1 March 1245, the first day of the Venetian year, he would find himself in 1244 when he reached Florence: and if after a short stay he went on to Pisa, the year 1246 would already have begun there. Continuing his journey westward, he would find himself again in 1245 when he entered Province, and on arriving in France before Easter (16 April) he would be once more in 1244." (Cheney Handbook of Dates for Students of English History)

So in order to keep confusion to a minimum, I'll keep to the custom of these Modern Middle Ages and bid you all a Happy 2015!

-- 
Magister Galenus Ockhamnesis                                         xb
Friar Galen of Ockham, MC, OP 

Physikis et Astronomus 

A Study in Natural Philosophy http://medievalscience.org
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