Happy New Year, regardless of your Calendar
As a majority of the world has probably recovered from the festivities of December 31st, 2012 that continued into January 01, 2013 according to the Gregorian calendar, that the western nations follow, and the world didn’t end according to the Mayan calendar. The Gregorian calendar is based on the birth of Christ, however humanity has kept track of the seasons for a lot longer. I thought it would be a good idea to look at see where we are according to other calendars.
If we were still following the calendar the Greeks, Russians and other Eastern Orthodox countries followed till about the 1700s we would have celebrated the year 7521 back on September 01. For more on this calendar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_calendar The Orthodox Churches Celebrate Christ’s birth on January 7th, and New Years Eve on January 13th.
Buddhists consider this the year 2556, and this is mainly celebrated in Southeast Asian countries, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. This Calender alternates between 29 day and 30 day months. For many Thais and tourists, April 13th is a day to get wet in Thailand, during Songkran. For more on the Buddhist calendar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_calendar
Those who follow the Chinese calendar will celebrate on February 13, as the year of the Dragon ends, and the year of the Snake begins. The year depends on a few things so might be stated as 4649, 4709, or 4710. For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_calendar
Our Hebrew friends would consider this the year 5773 with the next New year’s Eve on September 13. For more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar
Of course there are many others and want to have some interesting trivia, or the reason to get friends together head over to New Years around the world.
Being of Ukrainian and Chinese descent I grew up with two Christmases, and three New Years every year. However regardless of which one you follow may the year bring peace, happiness, and love to all of us.
Thank you for clarifying this confusion. I was just about to write about the Chinese New Year — that fact that it hasn’t started yet. Now you’ve beaten me on that, and I would try to write it from another angle. Fantastic and useful information to have.
I only wrote the basics, I’m sure you can easily author a great book or two on it..
What an interesting post! Where in the Ukraine did your people come from?
You are a fountain of knowledge!
More like the plumber providing the pipe from the source to the consumer.
Well HAPPY 2556!!!