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New Years Eve (sh.itjust.works)
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[-] null@piefed.nullspace.lol 1 points 1 month ago

Sure. But none of that makes New Years Day arbitrary by virtue of it not being, in fact, the winter solstice.

[-] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 1 points 1 month ago

If you use the equinoxes or the solstices you're still being arbitrary because there are two of each.

January 4 is the day of the year that the Earth is closest to the Sun [perihelion] That would be a good date, but there will be those who argue for stating the year when Earth is furthest away.

[-] null@piefed.nullspace.lol 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Okay, but why would that mean that New Years Day not being the winter solstice makes it arbitrary to celebrate on Jan 1?

[-] DagwoodIII@piefed.social 2 points 1 month ago

It's arbitrary because there's no moment that is the obvious beginning of the cycle.

That's the very definition of 'arbitrary'

[-] null@piefed.nullspace.lol -1 points 1 month ago

That moment is the moment the Julian calendar restarts. It's not arbitrary at all, and certainly not made so by virtue of it not being the/a winter solstice (your original statement).

this post was submitted on 31 Dec 2025
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