[foruhar]

Iran (and some neighbors) starts the new year on the Spring Equinox, the first day of spring. It’s named Now Ruz which translates to new day. Kinda makes sense to kick off the year at spring. It’s also pretty precise give that it’s an astronomical event. It dates back to at least Zoroastrian times (15th century BCE).

All the equinoxes and solstices are celebrated there. The winter solstice is named Yalda Night, which was a few nights ago and Christmas may be related to this astronomical event. There is also Mehran and Tirgan. Ancients did like to get together and party.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yald%C4%81_Night

[mcdonje]

I like that. I'm in favor of a calendar that works that way. The spring equinox does make a lot of sense. It's when plants start growing again where most people live in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere seasons being the opposite of the north actually makes an equinox more equitable choice for a global calendar start/end point than a solstice.

[fsckboy]

"dec"ember used to be the 10th month which puts old new years at the beginning of march, a few weeks before the equinox. also, i haven't even noodled this in my head much but I think it works out in which direction it slips the date (hmmm maybe not), but it wasn't till Pope Gregory that it was realized there was a 100 year non leap year problem serious enough to impact the calendar.