equinox. In Germany, about the 11th
century, it was usual to begin the year at Christmas; and this practice
also prevailed at Milan, Rome and other Italian cities, in the 13th,
14th and 15th centuries.

In England, the practice of placing the beginning of the year at
Christmas was introduced in the 7th century, and traces of it are found
even in the 13th. Gervase of Canterbury, who lived in the 13th century,
mentions that almost all writers of his country agreed in regarding
Christmas day as the first of the year, because it forms, as it were,
the term at which the sun finishes and recommences his annual course. In
the 12th century, however, the custom of beginning the civil year with
the day of the Annunciation, or the 25th of March, began to prevail, and
continued to be generally followed from that time till the reformation
of the calendar in 1752. The historical year has always been reckoned by
English authors to begin with the 1st of January. The liturgic year of
the Church of England commences with the first Sunday of Advent.

A knowledge of the different epochs which have been chosen for the
commencement of the year in different countries is indispensably
necessary to the right interpretation of ancient chronicles, charters
and other documents in which the dates often appear contradictory. We
may cite an example or two. It is well known that Charles the Great was
crowned emperor at Rome on Christmas day in the year 800, and that he
died in the year 814, according to our present manner of reckoning. But
in the annals of Metz and Moissac, the coronation is stated to have
taken place in the year 801, and his death in 813. In the first case the
annalist supposes the year to begin with Christmas, and accordingly
reckons the 25th of December and all the following days of that month to
belong to 801, whereas in the common reckoning they would be referred to
the year 800. In the second case the year has been supposed to begin
with the 25th of March, or perhaps with Easter; consequently the first
three months of the year 814, reckoning from the 1st of January, would
be referred to the end of the year 813. The English Revolution is
popularly called the Revolution of 1688. Had the year then begun, as it
now does, with the 1st of January, it would have been the revolution of
1689, William and Mary being received as king and queen in February in
the year 1689; but at that time the year was considered in England as
beginning