	The Change to the Gregorian Calendar in England, Wales and Scotland
download and description program tour and use how and why Gregorian change New Year's day Regnal dates	The images below are taken from the program , which can be used to illustrate the points being made. Great Britain changed from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in September 1752 as illustrated in the fragment on the right. The dates 3rd to 13th were omitted. The dropping of these 11 days brought English dates into line with most of Europe. The seasons were now correctly aligned with the calendar. Further information Table of changes in other countries Old Christmas Eve The omission of 11 days in that September resulted in Christmas 1752 being celebrated 355 days after Christmas 1751. Some folks decided that "Old Christmas Eve", which fell 11 days later on 4th January 1753, should be celebrated. The image to the right illustrates the relationship between 4th January in the new Gregorian calendar and 24th December in the old one. In the Gregorian calendar the years 1800 and 1900 were no longer leap years (in the Julian calendar they were) and therefore the difference between the two calendars increased to 12 days after February 1800 and then to 13 days a century later. Thus shifting Old Christmas Eve to 5th January and then to 6th January. Because 2000 was a leap year in both calendars, Old Christmas Eve will not shift again until 7th January 2101. British Tax Year The British tax year starts on 6th April, why such an odd date? Until 1752 the tax year in Great Britain started on 25th March, old New Year's Day. In order to ensure no loss of tax revenue, the Treasury resolved that the taxation year which started on 25th March 1752 would be of the usual length (365 days) and therefore it would end on 4th April, the following tax year beginning on 5th April. The illustration shows the situation after 1800, this was not leap year in the new calendar but would have been in the old Julian system. Therefore the Treasury moved their year start from 5th to 6th of April. After this logic prevailed and this date has remained unchanged ever since.

The Change to the Gregorian Calendar

in England, Wales and Scotland

The images below are taken from the program , which can be used to illustrate the points being made.

Great Britain changed from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in September 1752 as illustrated in the fragment on the right.
The dates 3rd to 13th were omitted. The dropping of these 11 days brought English dates into line with most of Europe. The seasons were now correctly aligned with the calendar.

Further information
Table of changes in other countries

Old Christmas Eve

Old Christmas 1752 The omission of 11 days in that September resulted in Christmas 1752 being celebrated 355 days after Christmas 1751. Some folks decided that "Old Christmas Eve", which fell 11 days later on 4th January 1753, should be celebrated. The image to the right illustrates the relationship between 4th January in the new Gregorian calendar and 24th December in the old one.

In the Gregorian calendar the years 1800 and 1900 were no longer leap years (in the Julian calendar they were) and therefore the difference between the two calendars increased to 12 days after February 1800 and then to 13 days a century later. Thus shifting Old Christmas Eve to 5th January and then to 6th January. Because 2000 was a leap year in both calendars, Old Christmas Eve will not shift again until 7th January 2101.

British Tax Year

The British tax year starts on 6th April, why such an odd date?

Until 1752 the tax year in Great Britain started on 25th March, old New Year's Day. In order to ensure no loss of tax revenue, the Treasury resolved that the taxation year which started on 25th March 1752 would be of the usual length (365 days) and therefore it would end on 4th April, the following tax year beginning on 5th April. The illustration shows the situation after 1800, this was not leap year in the new calendar but would have been in the old Julian system. Therefore the Treasury moved their year start from 5th to 6th of April. After this logic prevailed and this date has remained unchanged ever since.

last edited 25-Mar-2004