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Ancient and modern

How the year began

5 January 2019

9:00 AM

5 January 2019

9:00 AM

Why are our years structured as they are? Censorinus in his de die natali (‘Birthday Book’) for his chum Caerellius (ad 238) revealed all, as follows.

The Roman year once had ten months. It began in March, named after Mars god of war, since that was when the fighting season began.

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