Show x y IW YEARS YEAR'S JOY The theme of New Years Year's Day always always always al al- al- al ways has been one of joy Regardless Regard Regard- less of the country or the people or of the date on which it was celebrated celebrated celebrated cele cele- joy marked the spirit in which it was observed New Years Year's Day of the is given as October 17 of the Hebrews as September and of the Chinese as early February The ancient Egyptians Phoenicians Phoenicians Phoenicians Phoeni Phoeni- and Persians began their year at the autumnal equinox September Septem Septem- ber 21 and the Greeks until tho the fifth century B. B C. C at the winter solstice solstice solstice sol sol- sol sol- stice December r 21 In B. B CC C. C the latter altered the New Years Year's Day Dayto to June 21 The ancient Romans celebrated I December 21 but this was altered to January 1 by Caesar in adopting the Julian calendar March 25 was the date observed among most Christian peoples in medieval days In Saxon Anglo-Saxon England England England Eng Eng- land however December 25 was I New Years Year's Day until it was changed to January 1 at the Norman Norman Norman Nor Nor- man conquest but later it was changed to March 25 and so remained remained remained re re- until the English adopted the Gregorian calendar |