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Re: How well I remember 1600



On Tue, 29 Feb 2000, Joseph Bellina wrote:

Today is a day like none other since 1600, and if my guess about calendar
reform is correct, may only be the second such day in history. This the
once-every-400-year calendar correction.


Now, it is.

In the US and other former English colonies, 1700 was a leap year as well.
The Gregorian calendar was introduced in 1582, but it wasn't adopted until
later in many countries.

England and her colonies didn't adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1752.
Apparently this caused unending confusion. People who did business on the
Continent had to keep track of two sets of dates. Events might have
happened on the same day, but not on the same date.

For example, it is widely reported that Isaac Newton was born on Christmas
Day 1642. That's true, sort of. He was born on December 25 in England, but
in France he was born on January 4. Or take the usual statement that
Shakespeare and Cervantes were born on the same day. Not true. They were
born on the same date.

So, England and the colonies celebrated a leap year in 1700. Russia didn't
switch until after 1900.


(This is from Duncan Steel's new book, _Marking Time: The Epic Quest to
Invent the Perfect Calendar_.)

---

Marc Kossover
marck9@mail.idt.net