Turning the Page on the Calendar!

Andrea here, wishing everyone a Happy 2022 as we celebrate the first day of the new year. May it bring brighter times and less upheaval and uncertainty in all our lives.

As we mark this transition from old to new, it got me to thinking about how we record the passage of time . . . which of course made me think of calendars! In most of the world, the Gregorian calendar—a refinement of the Roman Julian calendar which was adopted in 1582—is used as the standard for secular use.

Unlike ancient times, where the passage of time was based on lunar cycles, the Gregorian calendar divides the year into 12 months , with a leap day added every four years to keep things in balance.

Some quick research into the history of calendars turned up some very fascinating facts!

A Mesolithic arrangement of stones and pits in Scotland dating back 10,000 years is considered by some archeologists to be the first evidence of human timekeeping.

The first calendars systems date back to the Bronze Age and the Sumerian calendar was one of the earliest. It was also the first to divide the year into twelve lunar months, each one beginning with the sighting of the full moon.

Other systems followed—the Egyptian, the Assyrian and Elemite calendars. By the Iron Age, all sorts of calendars were flourishing, including the Zoroastrian and Hebrew calendars.

Early Chinese calendars were based on a five-phase system of 10 moths of 36 days, with a transition of 5-6 days. In India, calendars were . . . complicated, being based on the movements of the planets, the moon and sun.

Perhaps the most complex system developed in Mezoamerica, where the Mayan calendar had two years, divided into a 260 day Sacred Round and a 365 day Vague Year. Within those those increments were a mind-spinning number of different cycles . . . Don’t ask.

So that’s a few fun facts about historical calendars. Whatever way you choose to measure time, may coming days bring health, happiness and all good things!

Comments

[Lil Marek]

I think my New Year's resolution should be: "I will not try to figure out the Mayan calendar."

I'm pretty sure I can keep that one.

[Andrea Penrose]

Ha, ha! A wise idea! especially if you have had a lot of champagne last night!

Happy New Year!

[Kareni]

I'll second Lil's New Year's resolution! Generally I don't make resolutions; that way I don't break them.

Thanks for a fascinating post, Andrea. Wishing a happy and healthy new year to all!

[Denise]

Interesting post, thank you. Since retirement my husband and I share an electronic calendar. It doesn’t bode well for the activity if you neglected to put it on the calendar! A happy and healthy new year to all!

[Andrea Penrose]

So glad you enjoyed it, Kareni. The topic really is fascinating. I could have done a much longer and more detail post . . . and maybe I will at a later date.

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year too!

[Andrea Penrose]

Denise, I use an e-calendar to mark all my upcoming activities, too. I just have to remember to look at it!

Happy and healthy New Year to you, too!

[Janice]

I have turned off all the gadgets on my phone that I can so that I don't get annoying nags in the middle of me trying to do something. I have throttled Bixby so he doesn't pop in with "helpful" information - he's an electronic Person from Porlock.

My own system is retro - a big fat spiral notebook on my desk which is at my right hand where I can write in it. Every month I start a page for that month. In the top margin I write any appointments I have made and in a sort of weird code of my own I have a line for each day and what data I need to track about it. The other pages are for internet stuff (buying and selling) and other things that have a separate page for each event. I do it this way because I never picked up the sticky note habit; I always had a calendar book at work. This way the reminders are out where I will look at them daily and be reminded of whatever I have to do to get ready, and I can look back and see when was the last time I did something.

I also keep a little fat notebook next to it for notes that will get posted to my Excel worksheets, phone numbers, stock closings, mailings, books I want to check out, things to do, people to call, and other temporary things like that.

I like this system because it's private. It's not online.
Can't be lost or stolen with my phone. Drop them in the drawer and nobody who comes to my place even knows they exist. If I need to carry the info with me, I snap a photo on my phone which I can delete when it has served its purpose.

We have almost no privacy left in the modern world now that everything's online, but you can protect yourself by minimizing your online footprint. Depending on one's situation, it may be worth the effort.

[Annette N]

I have two calendars....one on the fridge that is marked for personal birthdays and anniversaries for friends and family. The one on my desk next to my keyboard has other dates to follow - not personal things, but important dates to remember.

Like Janice, I believe if I can have my life not on line, I am happier. I worked for the federal government and had to be investigated by the FBI. Those records were hacked. I had my name, address and social security number published online for one year. It turned out the state comptroller's department accidentally put the information out there for about 1 million of us. I have had an agency that monitors my information whether I want them to or not, hacked so once again, my personal info was out there. Has anyone other than me wanted to make equifax, and the other agencies pay me for using my info or else never use it again?

I am not a fan of "online" I have eliminated most online and social media accounts. And yes, I know they will be out there forever. And yes, I have kept the book connections 'cause I am addicted to books.

Sorry I nearly forgot, I no longer make resolutions....I am too darn old to do anything any fun anymore. So, it does not seem to be worth it to promise I won't have any fun.

I hope all of you are happy people who are well and safe and planning to continue to be the perfect people you have always been. Remember that you are well loved.