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When does the new year begin? Is it January 1 or April 1? For centuries, each new year began on April 1, the day designated by the Julian Calendar developed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC. Eight day New Year's celebrations started on March 25 and ended with large parties on April 1. In 1582, however, Pope Gregory XIII moved New Year's Day to January 1. He issued a papal bull requiring everyone to follow his system known as the Gregorian Calendar.
Was the world ready for such a big change? Citizens in predominantly Catholic countries such as Spain, Portugal, and Italy obeyed Pope Gregory XIII and began to celebrate January 1 as the first day of a new year. Protesters who disagreed with pope's decision insisted on keeping April 1 as the date for their new year's celebrations. When these protesters took to the streets to dance, sing, and shout on April 1, they were called April Fools for having new year celebrations on what many believed to be the wrong day.
Pope Gregory XIII, a leader in the Catholic Church, changed the world's schedule. To learn more ways in which Catholics have changed history, read Catholicism Everywhere: From Hail Mary Passes to Cappuccinos: How the Catholic Faith Is Infused in Culture by Helen Hoffner. The book is published by Sophia Institure Press and available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, the EWTN Religious Catalog, and the Sophia Institure Press website. You will learn about the saint who used beer to help save lives, the priest who posited the Big Bang Theory, the origin of the Haiil Mary Pass, and other facts about the contributions of the Catholic Church.
Helen Hoffner, Ed.D. is a professor at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the author of four books for Catholic audiences: The Cross: A Universal Symbol ( Marian Press, 2024), Catholicism Everywhere ( Sophia Institute Press, 2024), Catholic Traditions and Treasures ( Sophia Institute Press, 2018), and The Rosary Collector's Guide ( Schiffer Publishing, 2013). She has also written four books for teachers: The Elementary Teacher's Digital Toolbox ( Prentice Hall, 2006), Literacy Lessons K-8 ( Corwin Press, 2010), Reading and Writing Mysteries in Grades 4-8 ( Teacher Created Materials, 2006), and A Look at Realistic Fiction ( Teacher Created Materials, 2003). Dr. Hoffner has been invited to discuss her books on television programs of EWTN and the Catholic Faith Network as well as on radio stations across the United States and Canada.
