Calendar

New Year's Day is the only secular holiday that the entire world observes regardless of race or religious beliefs. It is based on the solar calendar established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and adopted by most countries. However, many Orthodox Eastern churches continue to use the earlier Julian calendar with the New Year falling on January 14. Some cultural groups, including Jews, Chinese, Hindus, and Muslims, use a lunar calendar or some combination of a lunar and solar calendar. The date of the Chinese New Year may fall on any date between January 21 and February 19. For 2016, the Chinese New Year occurs on February 8 and the first day of the Jewish New Year begins on the first day of the month of Tishri, or sundown on October 2. Different cultures also count years from different starting points. For example, January 1 is year 2016 according to the Gregorian calendar, but falls in year 5776 according to the Jewish calendar and in year 1437 according to the Islam Islamic calendar.  - Diversity Resources