The New Year: The Early Roman Calendar

New Year's Day was originally in March before the Julian calendar took effect in 45 BC when January and February were added to the calendar.In the early Roman calendar, March was the beginning of the year. The name “March” originated from the Roman god of war Mars whom was seen as the guardian of agriculture. “Janus was the Roman god of doors and gates, and had two faces, one looking forward and one back. “Caesar felt that the month named after this god (“January”) would be the appropriate “door” to the year”(), the New Year was originally begun on the first day of spring since it is the season of a new beginning in the agricultural and natural word. “The beginning of spring is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming.
It is purely arbitrary.”(), Beginning the year in January has no significant meaning other than the name that roots from the Roman god Janus whom Caesar thought was an appropriate derivative for a name since Janus was the gods of doors and gates since the new year is viewed as a door to a new year. In the year 153 BC, the Roman senate declared January 1st as the new year. “In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the new year”(), because the previous year was thrown out of balance by adding two months to the calendar.”But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the new year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.”, When Caesar altered the calendar again he let the days drag on until the calender days were once again in synch with the celestial patterns so his calendar would be relevant to the patterns of the sun and