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How calander originated, about months, week and days and all other, its history also other countries calendar

 

How calander originated, about months, week and days and all other, its history also other countries calendar 

The calendar is one of humanity's oldest tools for organizing time. Its history spans thousands of years, shaped by cultural, astronomical, and practical needs. Here's a detailed explanation of how calendars began, the history of 12 months, and other related information:

1. Origin of Calendars

  • Natural Observations:
    Early humans observed celestial bodies like the sun, moon, and stars to measure time. Key events like solstices, equinoxes, and lunar phases helped define time intervals.
  • Lunar and Solar Calendars:
    Early calendars were either lunar (based on the moon's phases) or solar (based on the sun's position). Combining these systems led to the lunisolar calendar.
  • First Known Calendars:
    • Egyptian Calendar (c. 3000 BCE): Solar-based, it introduced 12 months of 30 days, with an additional five days added at the year's end.
    • Babylonian Calendar (c. 2000 BCE): Lunisolar, with months starting at the first visible crescent moon.
    • Mayan Calendar: Advanced, featuring a 260-day ritual calendar and a 365-day solar calendar.

2. History of the 12-Month Calendar

  • Roman Calendar:
    • Initially had 10 months, starting in March and ending in December. The winter period was uncounted.
    • Numa Pompilius (c. 713 BCE): Added January and February, creating a 12-month year.
    • Julian Calendar (45 BCE): Introduced by Julius Caesar, standardized 365 days with a leap year every four years. Each month was assigned a fixed length.
  • Gregorian Calendar (1582):
    • Modified the Julian calendar to better align with the solar year (365.2422 days).
    • Introduced by Pope Gregory XIII and is the most widely used calendar today.

3. Names of the 12 Months

Each month’s name reflects Roman culture, mythology, and rulers:

  1. January: Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions.
  2. February: Derived from "Februa," a Roman purification festival.
  3. March: Named after Mars, the Roman god of war.
  4. April: Possibly from "Aperire" (to open), symbolizing the opening of flowers in spring.
  5. May: Named after Maia, a Roman goddess of growth.
  6. June: Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth.
  7. July: Named after Julius Caesar in 44 BCE.
  8. August: Named after Emperor Augustus in 8 BCE.
  9. September: Derived from "Septem," Latin for seven (originally the seventh month).
  10. October: From "Octo," Latin for eight.
  11. November: From "Novem," Latin for nine.
  12. December: From "Decem," Latin for ten.

4. Weekdays and Their Origins

The seven-day week originates from ancient Babylonian astronomy and the observation of seven celestial bodies:

  1. Sunday: Sun's day.
  2. Monday: Moon's day.
  3. Tuesday: Named after Mars (Tiw in Norse mythology).
  4. Wednesday: Named after Mercury (Woden in Norse mythology).
  5. Thursday: Named after Jupiter (Thor in Norse mythology).
  6. Friday: Named after Venus (Frigg or Freya in Norse mythology).
  7. Saturday: Saturn's day.

5. Why 12 Months and 7 Days?

  • 12 Months:
    • The number 12 was significant in many ancient cultures, representing completeness (e.g., 12 zodiac signs, 12 lunar cycles in a year).
    • A solar year fits imperfectly into 12 lunar months, but the system became standardized for practicality.
  • 7 Days:
    • A quarter of the lunar cycle (28 days) lasts about seven days.
    • Babylonian astronomers linked the week to seven visible celestial bodies.

6. Leap Years and Adjustments

  • The Earth's orbit around the sun takes approximately 365.2422 days, requiring adjustments:
    • Julian Calendar: Added a leap day every four years.
    • Gregorian Calendar: Skips leap years for years divisible by 100 but not 400 (e.g., 1900 was not a leap year, but 2000 was).

7. Other Calendars

  • Lunar Calendars: Follow the moon’s phases (e.g., Islamic calendar).
  • Lunisolar Calendars: Adjust for the sun and moon (e.g., Hindu, Hebrew calendars).
  • Chinese Calendar: Combines solar and lunar cycles, with a 12-year zodiac cycle.
  • Indian Calendars:
    • Vikram Samvat: Lunar-based, starting in 57 BCE.
    • Saka Calendar: Official Indian calendar, solar-based.

8. Fun Facts

  • February's Length: It has 28 or 29 days due to Roman Emperor Augustus shortening it to extend August to 31 days.
  • Calendar Reforms: Various reforms (e.g., French Revolutionary Calendar) have tried alternative systems but didn’t last.
  • Universal Timekeeping: Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is based on atomic clocks and Earth's rotation.

Let’s delve deeper into the fascinating variations and history of calendars across cultures and regions:

1. Ancient Calendars

Egyptian Calendar:

  • Type: Solar calendar.
  • Structure:
    • 12 months of 30 days each, plus 5 extra days (epagomenal days) to total 365 days.
    • Used primarily to track the annual flooding of the Nile River.
  • Influence: The concept of a solar calendar influenced the Roman calendar.

Babylonian Calendar:

  • Type: Lunisolar.
  • Structure:
    • 12 lunar months of 29-30 days, periodically adjusted by adding a 13th month (intercalation).
    • Months began with the first visible crescent moon.
  • Zodiac Signs: The Babylonians were the first to divide the sky into 12 zodiac signs, influencing modern astrology.

Mayan Calendar:

  • Type: Complex, with multiple cycles.
  • Structure:
    • Tzolk'in (Sacred Calendar): 260 days for religious and ceremonial purposes.
    • Haab (Solar Calendar): 365 days divided into 18 months of 20 days, plus 5 "unlucky" days.
    • Long Count: A larger cycle measuring approximately 5,125 years, famously ending in 2012 (interpreted as a "reset" rather than the "end of the world").

Chinese Calendar:

  • Type: Lunisolar.
  • Structure:
    • Combines 12 lunar months (354 days) with solar terms to align with the solar year.
    • A leap month is added approximately every 3 years.
  • Zodiac Cycle:
    • Each year is associated with one of 12 animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, etc.) and one of five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water).

2. Indian Calendars

Hindu Calendar (Panchang):

  • Type: Lunisolar.
  • Structure:
    • Months are based on lunar phases, with two halves: Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon).
    • Aligns with the solar year by adding an extra month (Adhik Maas) every 2-3 years.
  • Cultural Use: Determines religious festivals, auspicious days, and rituals.

Vikram Samvat:

  • Type: Lunisolar.
  • Origin: Introduced by King Vikramaditya in 57 BCE.
  • Usage: Predominantly used in northern and western India.

Saka Calendar:

  • Type: Solar.
  • Origin: Begins in 78 CE, used officially in India alongside the Gregorian calendar.
  • Structure: Divides the year into 12 months starting with Chaitra (March-April).

3. Islamic (Hijri) Calendar

  • Type: Lunar.
  • Structure:
    • 12 lunar months of 29-30 days, totaling about 354 days.
    • No intercalation, so the calendar drifts backward through the solar year (~11 days each year).
  • Cultural Use: Determines Islamic holidays like Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha.
  • Origin: Begins in 622 CE, the year of Prophet Muhammad's migration (Hijra) to Medina.

4. Jewish Calendar

  • Type: Lunisolar.
  • Structure:
    • 12 lunar months, with a leap month (Adar II) added every 2-3 years to align with the solar year.
    • Used for religious observances like Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Hanukkah.
  • Historical Importance: Influenced by Babylonian astronomy.

5. Unusual and Experimental Calendars

French Revolutionary Calendar (1793-1805):

  • Purpose: To break from religious and monarchic traditions during the French Revolution.
  • Structure:
    • 12 months of 30 days, each divided into 3 ten-day weeks (décades).
    • 5-6 extra days at the year's end were dedicated to celebrations.
  • Failure: Abandoned due to its complexity and lack of public acceptance.

Ethiopian Calendar:

  • Type: Solar.
  • Structure:
    • 13 months: 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month (PagumÄ“) of 5-6 days.
    • Approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar.
  • Cultural Use: Still used in Ethiopia for religious and civil purposes.

6. Calendars and Astronomy

  • Tropical Year:
    • The time it takes for the Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun (~365.2422 days).
    • Most solar calendars aim to align with the tropical year.
  • Sidereal Year:
    • The time it takes for the Earth to return to the same position relative to fixed stars (~365.256 days).
  • Lunar Cycle (Synodic Month):
    • The time between full moons (~29.53 days).

7. Fun Facts

  • Week Structure Variations:
    • Ancient Egyptians used 10-day weeks.
    • Romans initially had an 8-day week before adopting the 7-day system.
  • Lost Days:
    • When the Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582, 10 days were skipped to realign with the solar year (e.g., October 4 was followed by October 15).
  • World’s Oldest Calendar:
    • A lunar calendar discovered in Scotland dates back to 8000 BCE.

Let’s explore some specific calendar systems, their cultural significance, and the practices tied to them in more detail:

1. Hindu Panchang (Traditional Indian Calendar)

The Panchang is a comprehensive lunisolar calendar used for determining auspicious times, festivals, and rituals in Hindu culture.

Structure of Panchang:

  1. Tithi (Lunar Day):

    • A month has 30 tithis, divided into two fortnights:
      • Shukla Paksha: Waxing phase of the moon.
      • Krishna Paksha: Waning phase of the moon.
    • Each tithi represents a 12-degree movement of the moon relative to the sun.

  2. Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion):

    • The sky is divided into 27 segments (nakshatras), each representing a specific star or constellation.
    • Nakshatras are used to determine personality traits and auspicious timings.

  3. Rashi (Zodiac Signs):

    • Based on the 12 divisions of the sky (similar to Western zodiac signs).
    • Each rashi corresponds to a 30-degree segment of the ecliptic.

  4. Yoga and Karana:

    • Additional factors for calculating auspicious or inauspicious moments.

Cultural Importance:

  • Festivals: All major Hindu festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Navratri are determined using the Panchang.
  • Auspicious Timings: Used for marriages, housewarming ceremonies, and naming ceremonies.
  • Astrology (Jyotish): The Panchang forms the foundation of Vedic astrology.

2. Chinese Calendar

The Chinese calendar is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese culture, blending astronomy and mythology.

Structure:

  1. Months:

    • 12 lunar months, occasionally with a leap month to align with the solar year.
    • Months are named after earthly elements or symbolic animals.

  2. 60-Year Cycle:

    • Combines the 12 zodiac animals (Rat, Ox, Tiger, etc.) with the 10 celestial stems (elements like Wood, Fire, etc.).
    • Each year represents a unique combination.

Cultural Importance:

  • Chinese New Year (Spring Festival): Marks the start of a new lunar year, celebrated with family gatherings and traditions.
  • Mid-Autumn Festival: Celebrates the full moon with mooncakes and lanterns.
  • Zodiac Compatibility: Determines personality traits and compatibility based on birth year.

3. Islamic Hijri Calendar

The Hijri calendar, used in Islamic culture, is based entirely on the moon’s cycles.

Structure:

  • 12 months of 29 or 30 days, totaling about 354 days.
  • Does not adjust for the solar year, so Islamic dates move backward by about 11 days annually.

Key Months and Festivals:

  1. Ramadan:
    • The 9th month, observed as a time of fasting, prayer, and reflection.
  2. Dhu al-Hijjah:
    • The 12th month, marked by the Hajj pilgrimage and Eid al-Adha.

Cultural Practices:

  • Lunar Sighting: The beginning of each month is confirmed by the sighting of the new crescent moon.
  • Religious Observance: Determines the timing of daily prayers, fasting, and other rituals.

4. Mayan Calendar

The Mayan calendar is one of the most intricate ancient systems, combining astronomy and ritual significance.

Structure:

  1. Tzolk’in (Sacred Calendar):
    • 260 days divided into 20 periods of 13 days.
    • Used for religious ceremonies and divination.
  2. Haab (Solar Calendar):
    • 365 days divided into 18 months of 20 days, plus 5 extra “unlucky” days.
  3. Long Count:
    • Tracks time over millennia, often used to predict historical cycles.

Cultural Significance:

  • Ceremonial Use: Governed rituals, agriculture, and social hierarchy.
  • 2012 Phenomenon: Misinterpreted as the “end of the world,” but actually signified the end of a long cycle and the start of a new one.

5. Gregorian Calendar (Modern Standard)

Introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, this calendar corrected inaccuracies in the Julian calendar.

Structure:

  • Divides the year into 12 months, with leap years every 4 years (except for years divisible by 100 but not 400).
  • Aligns closely with the solar year (365.2422 days).

Global Influence:

  • Adoption: Widely used worldwide for civil and business purposes.
  • Religious Significance: Used by most Christian denominations to determine dates like Easter and Christmas.

6. Jewish Calendar

The Jewish calendar combines lunar months with solar years, maintaining alignment through periodic leap months.

Structure:

  • 12 months of 29-30 days, with a leap month (Adar II) added 7 times in a 19-year cycle.
  • Begins with Tishrei (September/October), the month of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year).

Cultural Practices:

  • Festivals: Includes Passover, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah.
  • Sabbath (Shabbat): Observed weekly from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.

7. Ethiopian Calendar

The Ethiopian calendar is unique, with 13 months in a year.

Structure:

  • 12 months of 30 days and a 13th month (PagumÄ“) of 5-6 days.
  • Approximately 7-8 years behind the Gregorian calendar due to differences in the calculation of Christ's birth.

Cultural Significance:

  • New Year: Celebrated on September 11.
  • Religious Use: Central to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.


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