Oh yes, absolutely...January 1st is not an astronomical event!

I found this quite interesting:

- Gregorian New Year (January 1st): It was introduced in 153 BC in the Roman Republic, when the official start of the year was moved to January 1st. With the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1582, this date gradually became the standard New Year in most parts of the world.

- Chinese New Year: It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years, dating back to the Shang Dynasty. The date is determined by the lunar calendar and usually falls between late January and mid-February.

- Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah): It originated in ancient times and is based on the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. The holiday is celebrated on the 1st and 2nd day of the month of Tishrei (around September / October), which is determined by the lunar cycle while staying aligned with the solar year.

- Islamic New Year: It has been observed since 622 AD, marking the Hijra, the migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. The date is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, so it shifts earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar.

What I find odd, though, is that if the Solstices are astrological events, then they can't follow the Gregorian calendar and would have to realign themselves every year. Not according to the date (21st of...), but according to the constellation, right?

And then there’s the Fourth of July...and many other traditions around the world. I’m generally not someone who follows traditions that no longer speak to the present. Yet that is precisely the nature of tradition: it preserves the past without questioning it. And I find that deeply unsatisfying...