When Lore Beat Law: How England's New Year Moved from March 25th to January 1st
2025-01-01
Until the mid-1700s, English law dictated that the New Year began on March 25th (Lady Day), yet the populace celebrated on January 1st. This discrepancy led to dating errors in legal documents and conflicts with Scotland's January 1st New Year. A 1750 Act of Parliament finally shifted the New Year to January 1st, also adopting the Gregorian calendar. This change highlights how enduring custom eventually overruled rigid legal conventions.
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