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| The '''Gregorian calendar''' is the most widely used calendar in the world today. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor [[Aloysius Lilius]], and decreed by [[Pope Gregory XIII]], after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by papal bull ''[[Inter gravissimas]]''. It is a reform of the [[Julian calendar]]. | | The '''Gregorian calendar''' is the most widely used calendar in the world today. It was first proposed by the Calabrian doctor [[Aloysius Lilius]], and decreed by [[Pope Gregory XIII]], after whom it was named, on 24 February 1582 by papal bull ''[[Inter gravissimas]]''. It is a reform of the [[Julian calendar]]. |
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− | Years in the reformed calendar continue the numbering system of the Julian calendar, which are numbered from the traditional year of [[Jesus]]' [[incarnation]], which has been labeled the "[[anno Domini]]" (AD) era, This era was created in the 6th century by the Roman [[monk]] [[Dionysius Exiguus]] and is sometimes labeled the "[[common era]]" (CE), otherwise known as the "Christian Era".[http://merriam-webster.com/dictionary/common%20era] | + | Years in the reformed calendar continue the numbering system of the Julian calendar, which are numbered from the traditional year of [[Jesus]]' [[incarnation]], which has been labeled the "[[anno Domini]]" (AD) era, This era was created in the 6th century by the Roman [[monk]] [[Dionysius Exiguus]] and is sometimes labeled the "[[common era]]" (CE), otherwise known as the "Christian Era". |
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| The changes made by Gregory corrected the drift in the civil calendar which arose because the mean Julian calendar year (exactly 365 1/4 days) was slightly too long, causing the [[vernal equinox]], and consequently the date on which Easter was being celebrated, to drift slowly forward in relation to the civil calendar and the seasons. | | The changes made by Gregory corrected the drift in the civil calendar which arose because the mean Julian calendar year (exactly 365 1/4 days) was slightly too long, causing the [[vernal equinox]], and consequently the date on which Easter was being celebrated, to drift slowly forward in relation to the civil calendar and the seasons. |
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| The Gregorian calendar system dropped 10 days to bring the calendar back into synchronization with the seasons and, to keep it there, adopted the following [[leap year]] rule: | | The Gregorian calendar system dropped 10 days to bring the calendar back into synchronization with the seasons and, to keep it there, adopted the following [[leap year]] rule: |
− | namely, "Every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year, except for years that are exactly divisible by 100; the centurial years that are exactly divisible by 400 are still leap years. For example, the year 1900 was not a leap year; the year 2000 was a leap year."[http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/calendars.php Introduction to Calendars]. In the Julian calendar, ''all'' years exactly divisible by 4 are leap years.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar] | + | namely, "Every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year, except for years that are exactly divisible by 100; the centurial years that are exactly divisible by 400 are still leap years. For example, the year 1900 was not a leap year; the year 2000 was a leap year."[http://aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/calendars.php]. In the Julian calendar, ''all'' years exactly divisible by 4 are leap years.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar] |
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| [[Category: General Reference]] | | [[Category: General Reference]] |
| [[Category: Astronomy]] | | [[Category: Astronomy]] |