In ancient times, and even in some contemporary societies, calendars were 13 months in length, rather than 12.
The Sol Calendar proposal would bring back the 13-month calendar, and, aside from the superstitious fear of the number Thirteen, it's very much worth considering.
This calendar reform idea was developed by Jim Eikner of Austin, Texas, and consists of a year of 13 months in length with the first 12 months having 28 days each, and the final month of the year, December, having 29. December would have 30 days in leap years, which line up with the leap years in the current Gregorian calendar.
The months are named the same as they are in the Gregorian calendar, except that a month called Sol - named for our Sun - is inserted between June and July, and it is this month that gives the calendar its name.
Although every month within the same year begins on the same day of week, the months begin on different days of the week in different years.
The 13-month Sol Calendar is a new take on a very old idea. It is, in fact, an adaptation of International Fixed Calendar, which in turn has its roots in the Positivist Calendar created by French philosopher August Comte in 1849.
This calendar reform idea was developed by Jim Eikner of Austin, Texas, and consists of a year of 13 months in length with the first 12 months having 28 days each, and the final month of the year, December, having 29. December would have 30 days in leap years, which line up with the leap years in the current Gregorian calendar.
The months are named the same as they are in the Gregorian calendar, except that a month called Sol - named for our Sun - is inserted between June and July, and it is this month that gives the calendar its name.
Although every month within the same year begins on the same day of week, the months begin on different days of the week in different years.
The 13-month Sol Calendar is a new take on a very old idea. It is, in fact, an adaptation of International Fixed Calendar, which in turn has its roots in the Positivist Calendar created by French philosopher August Comte in 1849.
Here's how it works:
In each year, the 29th and 30th days in December move the first day of the January of the following year either one or two weekdays forward in relation to that previous year.
In each year, the 29th and 30th days in December move the first day of the January of the following year either one or two weekdays forward in relation to that previous year.
However, within any given year, monthly calendars for January through November remain identical to each other, in that they start on the same day of the week – and of course, are all 28 days in length.
Some of the great features and benefits of the 13-month Sol Calendar:
• Twelve contiguous and identical months of exactly 28 days
• The thirteenth month of the year (December) has 29 days normally and 30 days in a leap year
• This calendar has the same names for the months as the Gregorian Calendar
• The new month (Sol) occurs between June and July
• Preserves the standard, 7-day week
• Preserves Gregorian leap year rule
• Almost all professional accounting systems offer a 13-period reporting option
• Computer accounting programs will likely be easily adjusted to 13 months
• Placing the new month (Sol) at mid-year minimizes the seasonal displacement of the traditional months
• Placing the extra day(s) at the end of the year allows all months to be identical for their first 28 days in any given year
• Leap years are every four years (in the same years we currently have leap years) and they add a 366th day to December (a Dec. 30), the same number of days the Gregorian calendar adds during a leap year
Overall, as a practical matter, this calendar effectively addresses some current concerns with the Gregorian calendar.
Unlike our current jumble of month sizes, the Sol Calendar's 28-day months can easily be remembered, and the leap year is more rationally located at the end of the year, rather than tucked after February (which hasn't been considered the end of the year for many centuries.)
Since each month's calendar is the same for the first 11 months (and identical through the 28th day every month) it's easy to remember that the 27th day of every month in 2011, for example, was a Wednesday.
Learn more here: http://www.abbottepub.com/newcal.html
Some of the great features and benefits of the 13-month Sol Calendar:
• Twelve contiguous and identical months of exactly 28 days
• The thirteenth month of the year (December) has 29 days normally and 30 days in a leap year
• This calendar has the same names for the months as the Gregorian Calendar
• The new month (Sol) occurs between June and July
• Preserves the standard, 7-day week
• Preserves Gregorian leap year rule
• Almost all professional accounting systems offer a 13-period reporting option
• Computer accounting programs will likely be easily adjusted to 13 months
• Placing the new month (Sol) at mid-year minimizes the seasonal displacement of the traditional months
• Placing the extra day(s) at the end of the year allows all months to be identical for their first 28 days in any given year
• Leap years are every four years (in the same years we currently have leap years) and they add a 366th day to December (a Dec. 30), the same number of days the Gregorian calendar adds during a leap year
Overall, as a practical matter, this calendar effectively addresses some current concerns with the Gregorian calendar.
Unlike our current jumble of month sizes, the Sol Calendar's 28-day months can easily be remembered, and the leap year is more rationally located at the end of the year, rather than tucked after February (which hasn't been considered the end of the year for many centuries.)
Since each month's calendar is the same for the first 11 months (and identical through the 28th day every month) it's easy to remember that the 27th day of every month in 2011, for example, was a Wednesday.
Learn more here: http://www.abbottepub.com/newcal.html
