2006 on the way
Jason Pitzl-Waters' WildHung Blog ( http://www.wildhunt.org )
quotes Bill Wangemann pointing out the pagan history of our New-Year festivities:
"There are many traditions related to the New Year. One of the common symbols of the holiday is a newborn baby, which represents a new beginning or a rebirth of the New Year. The tradition of a baby to signifying the celebration actually dates back to Greece in about 600 B.C. The celebration of a New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4,000 years ago. In those distant times, New Year's began with the first new moon after the vernal equinox (the first day of spring). To people in those long ago days, it made perfect sense to celebrate a New Year and a new beginning on the first day of spring. It is the Romans that we have to thank for New Year's Day being celebrated on Jan. 1; or more correctly, Julius Caesar. In 46 B.C. he rearranged the calendar, which by that time, was way off sync with the sun so that New Year's Day fell on Jan. 1. To do this, he had to extend the previous year for 455 days. The early Christian Church banned the celebration of ushering in a new year as a pagan custom. Jan. 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by western nations for only about 400 years."
more at
http://www.wildhunt.org/2005/12/christmas-war-is-over-if-you-want-it.html
. . . . .
• Hebrew Year 5766
Rosh HaShanah was Oct 4, 2005
http://www.science.co.il/Jewish-Holidays.asp
• Q: When is the Chinese New Year's Day in Year 2006?
A: January 29, 2006 is the first day of the new year.
- 2006 is the Year of the Dog.
http://www.chinapage.com/newyear.html
• Islamic Year 1426 H.
Hijrah New Year (10 February 2005)
http://islam.about.com/cs/calendar/a/hijrah_calendar_3.htm
• 'The Coptic calendar has 13 months ... The Coptic calendar, the oldest in history, originated three millennia before Christ .... The Feast of Neyrouz marks the first day of the Coptic Calendar known as the Year of the Martyrs "ANO MARTYRUM, A.M." Its celebration falls on the 1st day of the month named Tut, the first month of the Coptic year, which usually coincides with the 11th day of September.'
http://www.copticchurch.net/easter.html
• All the other Christian Liturgical years....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_calendar
• Metric Time:
very confusing... http://www.indwes.edu/Faculty/bcupp/things/metrictm.htm