Why the Calendar Year Begins on Jan. 1

 

While you can’t blame Julius Caesar for your New Year’s Day hangover, the idea of starting each year on Jan. 1, did originate with the first Roman Emperor. Caesar designated that day as the New Year in 153 B.C. because that’s when Rome’s two ruling consuls were chosen.

The Julian calendar remained in standard use throughout the Middle Ages, although many European countries chose to start their calendar year on different days to commemorate various Christian holidays like Christmas or Easter.

By the 16th century, it was clear that the Julian calendar needed to be reformed. Pope Gregory XIII chose a calendar devised by Italian astronomer and philosopher Aloysius Lilius in 1582.

By that time, most western European countries had already adopted Jan. 1, as the start of the New Year, but the Gregorian calendar itself was accepted at different times by different nations. Russia didn’t abandon the Julian calendar for the Gregorian until after the October Revolution in 1917.

If You Could Talk to the Animals. . .

The dog on the television show may have barked to let people know a little boy had fallen down the well, but animals in the wild utilize many different communication methods. Here’s what scientists have observed:

• Ants. The Argentine ant emits a chemical scent to tell other ants it is alive. When it dies, so does its aroma, telling the other ants it is time to discard the body before it shows any sign of decay.

• Prairie dogs. Prairie dog barking communicates specific details about threats from dogs, hawks and humans, including the size and shape of the nearby enemy. Prairie dogs also bark in different dialects depending on where they are from.

• Elephants. The elephant’s trumpet is well known, but these massive beasts can also emit a sort of “silent trumpet” that humans can feel but not hear, signaling their presence to other elephants up to five miles away.