When the Year Began in Spring
Today in America and much of the modern world, we welcome the New Year in January. Yet for most of human history, the year did not begin in winter’s depth—but in the return of light.
Long before January became the global standard, many civilizations marked the New Year in March, guided by the rhythms of nature rather than the pages of a calendar.
The ancient Romans originally began their year on March 1st, a time aligned with spring’s arrival. This choice was practical and symbolic: fields could be worked again, military campaigns resumed, and life stirred after winter’s rest. Even the month’s name—Martius, honoring Mars—reflected action, movement, and renewal.
In ancient Babylon, the New Year was celebrated during Akitu, a sacred festival held around the vernal equinox in mid-March. This multi-day event honored creation, balance, and the renewal of divine order. It was a moment when cosmic harmony and earthly life were believed to realign.
The ancient Persians also welcomed the New Year at the equinox, a tradition that continues today as Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Still observed by millions, Nowruz celebrates rebirth, balance, and the triumph of light over darkness—ideas deeply rooted in nature’s cycles.
Even medieval Europe retained echoes of this older rhythm. For centuries, March 25, known as the Feast of the Annunciation or Lady Day, was recognized as New Year’s Day in many parts of Europe, including England and its colonies. This practice continued until 1752, when calendar reforms officially moved the New Year to January 1.
What unites all these traditions is not a single calendar, but a shared understanding:
A new year begins when life begins again.
The shift to January 1 was largely administrative and political, tied to Roman reforms and later global standardization. Yet the older spring-based New Year reminds us that time was once measured not by numbers, but by light, soil, and seasons.
In this way, March was not merely another month—it was a threshold. A return. A beginning.
Misty Lee
Also see my article on what to do in each season here
