How much do you know?
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What astronomical event coincides with or is closely related to the first day of the year?
The first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, January 1st, does not align with or relate to any significant astronomical event. Instead, its placement is largely historical and cultural. The Roman calendar originally started in March which was the start of a Spring (January and February didn't exist yet). However, in 153 BCE, the beginning of the new year was moved to January 1st in the deep Winter to coincide with the assumption of office by the new consuls. This change was primarily for administrative and political reasons rather than astronomical ones.
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Which year will have 53 Saturdays?
Every 28 years has five years with 53 Saturdays, providing the period does not include a century year not a multiple of 400. Any year starting on Saturday has 53 Saturdays, including 2005, 2011, 2022, and 2028 from 2001 to 2028. Additionally, any leap year starting on Friday also has 53 Saturdays. The previous leap year began on a Friday in 2016. The next leap year will start on a Friday in 2044, exactly 28 years later.
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Which year will have 53 weeks?
The year of the Gregorian calendar can have 52 or 53 weeks. It is incorrect to assume a leap year with 53 weeks. According to the ISO-8601 standard, every 28 years has five years with 53 weeks, providing the period does not include a century year not a multiple of 400. Any year beginning on Thursday has 53 weeks. Notable examples from 2001 to 2028 include 2004, 2009, 2015, and 2026. Leap years starting on Wednesday also have 53 weeks, such as 2020 and 2048.
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How were the month lengths determined? Did any calendar have equal month lengths?
The days of a year cannot be neatly divided into twelve equal parts. This is why months have uneven lengths. Initially, months were based on the lunar cycle of 29.5 days, alternating between 29 and 30 days. The current calendar month is one-twelfth of a solar year (365 or 366 days), resulting in having 30 or 31 days. However, February is the only month with just 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years.
Since the non-uniformity of month lengths causes much confusion, numerous calendar proposals with consistent month lengths have been proposed. For instance, we nearly adopted the International Fixed Calendar in 1923, which had 13 months of 28 days (exactly 4 weeks). However, the transition to such reform would be globally challenging. Existing documents and computer systems would require significant adjustments, potentially causing disruptions. So, we continue to follow the incompleteness of our current calendar system. -
Why was February, the shortest month, chosen to have the leap day?
February was chosen to have the leap day due to historical and political reasons dating back to the Roman calendar reforms. Before the reforms of Numa Pompilius, the Roman calendar had only 10 months and left the winter period uncounted. Numa added January and February to the calendar, making it a 12-month year. In 45 BCE, Julius Caesar reformed the calendar into the Julian calendar. He changed January and February to be the first two months and maintained February with the leap day. At that time, February had 29 days in common years and 30 days in leap years, while August had only 30 days.
In 8 BCE, Augustus Caesar removed a day from February and added a day to his birth month of August. From that year onwards, February has had only 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years. No subsequent calendar reform has attempted to change this. -
Which year will have all quarters starting on the same day of the week?
The Gregorian calendar, which we use today, does not have any year where all four quarters start on the same day of the week. If a quarter has exactly 91 days (equivalent to 13 weeks), the next quarter will begin on the same day of the week. In a leap year (like 2024), the first two quarters are equally 91 days long. Consequently, the first three quarters can all start on the same day of the week (e.g., the first three quarters of 2024 all began on a Monday).
However, in 45 BCE, the Julian Calendar (created by Julius Caesar and used before the Gregorian calendar) could have all quarters started on the same day of the week during common years because the first three quarters were equally 91 days, in which February had 29 days and August had only 30 days. In 8 BCE, Augustus Caesar changed the Julian calendar by removing a day from February and adding the day to August, thus breaking the rule.
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When and why did the Roman calendar change from eight-day weeks to seven-day weeks?
The seven-day week was adopted into the calendar system gradually influenced by various cultures and religions. Initially, the Romans used an eight-day week known as the nundinal cycle. However, the seven-day week gained popularity in the Roman Empire through the influence of Judaism and Christianity. In 321 CE, Emperor Constantine officially adopted the seven-day week for the Roman Empire and declared Sunday as a day of rest and worship. That means the calendar used in the age of Jesus Christ did not enforce the constant seven-day week.
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Which year will begin on a Monday?
Every 28 years has four years starting on a Monday, providing the period does not include a century year not a multiple of 400. For example from 2001 to 2028, the common years of 2001, 2007, and 2018 began on a Monday, while the leap year of 2024 also started on a Monday. Looking ahead to the next 28 years, we can calculate that 2029, 2035, 2046, and 2052 will begin on a Monday.
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Which year will feature three Fridays on the 13th?
Friday the 13th, a day shrouded in superstition for some, happens from once to three times a year in Western traditions. Interestingly, any month starting on a Sunday guarantees a Friday on the 13th day! Since the calendar parallelly runs two systems: the uneven months and the week with rigid sever days, there are irregularly once to three months starting on a Sunday a year. Every 400 years, there are 688 Fridays the 13th, an average of 1.72 Fridays the 13th per year.
Moreover, it is more frequent in the leap years starting on a Sunday, like 2012, which saw a triple threat of Friday the 13th in January, April, and July. Looking at the recent 28 years (2001-2028), non-leap years starting on a Thursday bring another twist. These years, like 2009, 2015, and 2026, have three Fridays the 13th in February, March, and November. The coming decades hold similar patterns, with triple occurrences predicted for 2037, 2040, 2043, and 2054. -
Why is it challenging to determine the exact dates or period when given a specific Week Number?
When we specify a Week Number, it's often unclear which specific dates or period it represents. This ambiguity arises because different calendars and systems may define the start of the week differently, and the numbering of weeks can vary based on regional or organizational practices. Variations in the start of the week, regional practices, fiscal and academic calendars, leap years, and cultural differences all contribute to this ambiguity, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact period a specific Week Number represents. Even though there is an ISO standard for Week Numbering, it is not widely adopted or applied in many situations.
However, a standardized Week Number system would simplify communication and coordination for people, businesses, and countries. It would eliminate ambiguity and ensure everyone is aligned when referring to specific weeks, regardless of regional or organizational differences. This alignment could streamline planning, improve efficiency, and reduce misunderstandings.
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Why is consistency in school calendars important and expected?
School calendars are built on a predictable and consistent rhythm, yet the current calendar must be renewed yearly. This mismatch creates a yearly rearrangement of school schedules. Remembering term dates becomes a memory test, forcing us to rely on paper or digital calendars. This rearrangement isn't unique to schools. All annual events face the same disruption.
Many universities try to fix the semester start dates to provide structure and regularity in the academic schedule, which is essential for organizing the educational framework of the university, such as the start of February for the spring semester and the start of September for the fall semester. It explains the essentials of a perennial calendar with fixed days of the week for the calendar dates. That would bring practicality and ease to all schools and organizations, particularly fixing all annual events and anniversaries. -
How can the calendar be calibrated to meet the observed average year length of 365.2422 days?
The Earth's journey around the Sun takes an average of 365.2422 days, but this duration fluctuates slightly over time. The Gregorian calendar has a fixed average year length of 365.2425 days within the 400-year cycle. While this system deviates about 27 seconds per year, it provides a highly accurate long-term measure.
Surprisingly, no day in the calendar aligns with or anchors any astronomical event, such as the equinox or solstice. A calendar system should be flexible and calibratable to the observed astronomical change of the Earth's orbit. Unfortunately, the Gregorian calendar is fixed in a cycle of 20,871 weeks in 400 years, making it inflexible for calibration.
Why calendar upgrade?
Confusing, Irrational & Incomplete!
Don't worry if you are unsure about the answers to the above questions. 99.99% of people know very little about the daily-used calendar. We must rely on paper calendars or calendar software. But why do so few people understand the calendar? Why didn’t we learn it in school? The Gregorian calendar, with its 14 calendar versions swapping yearly, is inexplicably complicated and presumably incomplete. Its perplexing and irrational nature led to its exclusion from any school curriculum. Our daily-used calendar should be as simple as the clock system, rather than complicated and confusing. The Gregorian calendar could be our worst daily-used standard. For no choice, we dogmatically follow and use it in our lives.
Why Wasting Effort, Time & Money?
The Gregorian calendar reformed the Julian calendar to correct the drifted days, changing the calendar cycle from 28 years to 400 years (or 20,871 weeks). However, the annual drift is merely 11 minutes and the draft of one day takes 130 years, so it should not be urgent to reform in October 1582 and still set the calendar perplexing. The Gregorian and Julian calendars inherited the ancient Roman calendar. However, the Roman calendar initially had only ten months per year. January and February were finally added as the 11th and 12th months. Later, Julius Caesar reordered them as the first two months and so worse to keep the leap day in the shortest February. Traditionally and reasonably, New Year’s Day was and should be in early spring, not mid-winter; Leap Day was and should be the final day in the leap year, not in the second month.
The Gregorian calendar was designed and rushly implemented with religious and political purposes, rather than merely functional or astronomical ones. This reform concluded to support two calendrical systems: the twelve months and the week with rigid seven days. Consequently, it results in 14 calendar versions, and we must annually renew the calendar, choosing from one of these versions. Unfortunately, this annual renewal is costly and troublesome for people and businesses. Our calendar should be simple, practical, and astronomically relevant. Instead, it constantly confuses us, wastes our effort, and consumes resources due to its annual variations. Such a complicated calendar system should not be our daily-used system in this modern age.
Enhancement, Not Reform.
The current calendar does indeed seem incomplete, and the need to renew it annually appears unnecessary. Have you ever tried guiding a child through reading and using a calendar? If so, you may have encountered erconfusion over its design, which can often seem overly complex and difficult to explain. Despite numerous attempts at reform, most calendar proposals have failed. The issue lies in introducing new and incompatible calendar structures. Historically, the United Nations examined two prominent calendar reform proposals. (1) The International Fixed Calendar was proposed by Moses B. Cotsworth in 1902. It featured 13 months of 28 days each, creating a 364-day year. The additional day (Year Day) and the leap day were designated as holidays outside the weekly cycle. Interestingly, this calendar was adopted (from 1928 to 1938) by the Eastman Kodak Company and used for about 10 years. (2) The World Calendar was introduced by Elisabeth Achelis in the 1950s and 1960s, aimed to create a year with equal quarters, each consisting of 91 days (13 weeks). Similar to the International Fixed Calendar, it included an annual extra day (Blank Day) and the leap day, which were treated as holidays and not part of the weekly cycle.
More recently, the Hanke-Henry Permanent Calendar (HHPC) proposed using leap weeks instead of leap days, creating either a 364-day or a 371-day year. However, such reforms would disrupt existing records, documents, and computer systems, posing significant challenges. The cost of transitioning to a new calendar structure would likely be prohibitively high.
What financial and operational benefits could be gained from upgrading the current calendar to a perennial system without the need for transitions or date conversions? A stable and predictable calendar would provide lasting benefits to individuals, businesses, and nations worldwide by offering a simple, consistent way to track time and plan activities. Imagine a world where questions like “When does the year start?” no longer arise, and there’s no need to worry about adjusting school terms or production schedules. A simplified calendar would streamline scheduling, introduce regularity into our lives, and make it easier for institutions and industries to function smoothly.
Do you know how our calendar system carried on its messy history? Why don't we upgrade our calendar in this modern age?
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII instituted a major reform to the Gregorian calendar. This reform removed ten days from October 1582. The new system incurred significant costs for implementation and faced resistance from Protestant and Orthodox regions. They viewed the Pope's decree as an attempt by the Catholic Church to dictate a new system, sparking religious tensions.
In September 1752, Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar and removed eleven days from the calendar. Meanwhile, New Year’s Day was moved from March 25th (Spring) to January 1st (Winter), aligning with the practice already followed in Scotland. This confusion seems to be associated with the playful pranks of the April Fool's Day.
Gregorian calendar
Basic Calendar Cycle
Complete Calendar Cycle
Complete Calendar cycle
Perfect Enhancement
The Same 52 Weeks for Any Year
The proposed Weeky Calendar is designed to be both user-friendly and business-friendly while remaining compatible with the current calendar. It accomplishes this by structuring a consistent 52-week cycle for any year, eliminating the need for yearly calendar changes. This approach is practical for individuals and represents best practices for organizations. For business and accounting purposes, the 52 weeks can be divided into 13 quad-weeks (four weeks each). The beauty of this system lies in its flexibility and reusability. The same calendar can be used every year, preventing confusion and reducing waste. As a result, substantial savings in both money and effort can be achieved.
To what extent are institutions, including companies and colleges, investing unnecessary effort in organizing their calendars yearly? The Weeky Calendar allows us to assign fixed dates to annual activities, events, conferences, holidays, and observances that currently lack designated dates. Examples include Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Easter Sunday. With school calendars becoming repetitive annually, parents, students, and teachers will appreciate the consistency of school terms and breaks, making it easier to plan school activities. In summary, we need a simple calendar that benefits people and businesses, streamlines our lives, and fosters efficiency.
Quarterly 13 Weeks, Monday to Sunday
The Weeky Calendar ensures that all quarters consist of equally 13 weeks, spanning from Monday to Sunday. To maintain the first quarter’s 13-week duration despite the presence of a leap day, February 29 is designated as a reserved Thursday. Meanwhile, the third and fourth quarters have 92 days, equivalent to 13 weeks plus one extra day. The Weeky Calendar addresses this by introducing Double Sundays, where a Sunday is followed by its Extended Sunday. Sundays are inherently joyful days, ideal for gatherings, hobbies, family time, relaxation, and worship. The Double Sundays amplify this happiness.
September 2 marks the first Extended Sunday following the regular Sunday of September 1, creating a delightful long weekend. That date has been established as an observance in the UK since 1752 and is called Calendar Adjustment Day (CAD). It is also the official end day of World War II globally marked on September 2, 1945. This Extended Sunday could serve as a special worship day to welcome a new season for religions.
December 31 serves as an ideal Extended Sunday, following the regular Sunday of December 30, culminating in an extended festive weekend at the year’s end. Once again, this second Extended Sunday might be a fitting occasion for yearend worship. In summary, the Weeky Calendar not only streamlines every year with 52 weeks but also adds moments of celebration and reflection. Would you prefer a year with 54 Sundays?
September 2, the first extended Sunday, seamlessly solves one extra day after 52 weeks in common years. Since leap day should not be in February, which makes February exceptionally short in days, December 31, the second extended Sunday, can be an ideal leap day in leap years.
Complete, Consistent, Versatile & Perennial
The Weeky Calendar is a perfect upgrade from the Gregorian calendar, meeting our everyday needs indefinitely. It subtly aligns uneven months into consistent quarters, each with precisely 13 weeks. This change offers significant benefits and cost savings for individuals, businesses, organizations, and governments. The consistent 13-week quarters improve the accuracy of monthly, quarterly, and yearly statistics and projections. Additionally, the Weeky Day feature helps us easier to track the number of weeks throughout the year. Overall, the Weeky Calendar and its Weeky Days are pragmatically user-friendly and business-friendly.
The Weeky Calendar follows the same leap years as the Gregorian calendar, making them fully compatible and usable in parallel. It eliminates the need for calendar renewals, date conversions, and document changes, requiring only simple software upgrades. The addition of Double Sundays is a great feature, providing extended leisure time. It is pragmatic and intuitive without further explanation. The Weeky Calendar is ready for immediate adoption, allowing schools, businesses, organizations, and countries to transition seamlessly and affordably. This upgrade offers permanent benefits and savings. As the current calendar will inevitably need refinement and enhancement to meet modern demands, why not initiate these changes NOW to ensure relevance and efficiency in our time?
Weeky Calendar
= First 8 months of 2024 + Last 4 months of 2029
= 100% compatible with the current calendar
= Seamless Adoption + Permanent Benefits
With the Weeky Calendar, We can refer to a day of the year by the week number and the name of the day of the week. For example, the 4th Sunday of each year corresponds to January 28th, the 6th Wednesday corresponds to February 7th, and the 28th Friday corresponds to July 12th. We call this day format "Weeky Day".
Calendar reform has high potential to impact the thousand-year history, cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs associated with the calendar. However, the Weeky Calendar aims to protect and preserve this rich heritage by ensuring 100% compatibility with the current calendar. The subtle enhancement and transition will not disrupt existing business or work practices. Instead, it will introduce greater flexibility and diversity.
Version
Leap Cycle
Every Quarter
Every Year
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How easy is it to answer the above questions if the Weeky Calendar is adopted?
1. What astronomical event coincides with or is closely related to the first day of the year?
The first day of the year in the Weeky calendar, January 1st, does not align with or relate to any significant astronomical event. However, it is easy to calibrate via more or less leap years because of its simple 4-year calendar cycle.2. Which year will have 53 Saturdays?
Every year has exactly 52 Saturdays, as do Mondays to Fridays. However, a year can have 53 or 54 Sundays in the Weeky Calendar.3. Which year will have 53 weeks?
The Weeky Calendar defines the same 52 weeks for every calendar year. No year will have 53 weeks.5. How were the month lengths determined? Did any calendar have equal month lengths?
Months have the same lengths as the months of the Gregorian calendar, but the Weeky Calendar makes every quarter equally 13 weeks long.4. Which year will have all quarters starting on the same day of the week?
The Weeky Calendar makes all quarters consistently start on Monday.6. Why was February, the shortest month, chosen to have the leap day?
February, the shortest month, disrupts the calendar's rhythm. Despite its occasional leap day, the first quarter often struggles to reach 13 weeks. The Weeky Calendar offers a clever solution: designating February 29 as a reserved Thursday, guaranteeing a consistent 13-week first quarter every year. Moreover, December 31, the year's final day, should eventually be the leap day. This subtle shift neatly streamlines the calendar, prioritizing consistency and practicality for long-term use.7. When and why did the Roman calendar change from eight-day weeks to seven-day weeks?
In 321 CE, Emperor Constantine officially adopted the seven-day week for the Roman Empire and declared Sunday as a day of rest and worship. However, the year of the Weeky calendar has one or two Double Sundays.8. Which year will begin on a Monday?
All years start on Monday.9. Which year will feature three Fridays on the 13th?
No Friday will fall on the 13th because no month will start on Sunday.10. Why is it challenging to determine the exact dates or period when given a specific Week Number?
The Weeky calendar has consistent 52 weeks a year. The Week Numbers can be steadily and practically applied.11. Why is consistency in school calendars important and expected?
The Weeky Calendar, with fixed days of the week for the calendar dates, streamlines school scheduling, offering a consistent framework that benefits everyone, businesses and organizations. Teachers, students, and parents can easily remember and follow the same schedule year after year. This uniformity simplifies planning for activities like term-break special studies, dedicated sports training weeks, and even overseas excursions, ensuring a smooth flow for all academic endeavours.12. How can the calendar be calibrated to meet the observed average year length of 365.2422 days?
The Weeky Calendar aligns with the Gregorian calendar's leap year structure. However, it offers a flexible calibration in any leap year: calibrations can be based on even more precise astronomical measurements of the Earth's orbit. This could enhance long-term accuracy compared to the Gregorian system.
Versatile (Each date has its day of the week.)
These ways make it far more useful and flexible than the complicated and rigid Gregorian calendar system. For example:
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How to conclude the permanent benefits of adopting the Weeky Calendar?
1. Financial Savings:
Eliminating Calendar Variations: Significant resources are currently allocated to address calendar variations, such as annual changes and leap years. The Weeky Calendar would eliminate these recurring costs.
Business Efficiency: CCompanies invest heavily in adjusting payrolls, interests, financial reporting, and planning based on calendar changes. The Weeky Calendar would streamline these processes, resulting in substantial cost savings.2. Time Efficiency:
Consistent Scheduling: People spend time adjusting their schedules due to calendar variations. The Weeky Calendar would eliminate the need for such adjustments, allowing individuals to plan more efficiently.
Reduced Administrative Work: Governments, organizations, and individuals invest time and effort managing calendar changes. The Weeky Calendar would free up this administrative time and effort, increasing overall productivity.3. Global Benefits:
International Coordination: The yearly consistency of the Weeky Calendar would facilitate global communication, trade, and travel, eliminating confusion from different calendar systems. The arrangement of annual events would become much more convenient.
Scientific Research: Researchers and scientists would benefit from a consistent calendar for experiments, data analysis, and collaboration. Periodic analysis and statistical projections would be more relevant and precise due to the equal pattern of every quarter.4. Environmental Impact:
Less Paper Waste: Annual calendar updates contribute to paper waste. The Weeky Calendar would reduce the need for printing new calendars each year, significantly decreasing paper consumption.
Energy and Resource Savings: The production and distribution of calendars consume energy. The Weeky Calendar would lessen this environmental footprint, as all calendar-related products would be permanent instead of just for one year.5. People Friendliness:
Seamless Transition: The Weeky Calendar respects and retains the associated history, cultures, traditions, and religious beliefs of the current calendar. It does not impact current calendar practices or religious festivals, making the transition seamless and straightforward.
Improving Memory: The annual consistency of the Weeky Calendar would prevent confusion caused by yearly variations, making it easier to recall events and anniversaries from previous years.In Summary:
The Weeky Calendar, a perfect enhancement of the current system, eliminates the need for annual renewal and offers new and versatile features. This innovative calendar would provide significant benefits, saving money, time, and effort for people, businesses, and nations worldwide. By adopting the Weeky Calendar, we can achieve a more efficient, consistent, and user-friendly way to manage our time.
The Final State
Leap Day was incorrectly set on February 29, leading to disruptions in common years. Leap Day on December 31, forming a 'Leap Year Double Sunday', is a perfect arrangement without any impact on common years. The Weeky Calendar has been meticulously designed for a seamless transition to the best date for the Leap Day. This approach will simplify financial and accounting calculations by eliminating the complications caused by February's short 28 days. The ordinal day of the year can then refer to a consistent month and day without concerns about the year.
February 29
February 29 is currently a Leap Thursday. It should be a regular Thursday to ensure that the first quarter consists of exactly 13 weeks.
December 31
December 31 is the second Extended Sunday. Indeed, it should be a Leap Sunday, once at the end of the 4-year leap cycle.
Happy Leap Sunday
Those born on December 31 (Leap Sunday) will experience the same birthday celebration on December 30, as both days fall on a Sunday.
* While December 31 will be the Leap Sunday in a leap year, September 2 will be an annual Extended Sunday (or simply Annual Sunday).
* In fact, December 31 as the Leap Day simplifies the Gregorian calendar, reducing its 14 versions to just 7, effectively halving the complexity.
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Why is February shorter than the other months? Will it be better to make February with 30 days?
A frequent suggestion proposes extending February to 30 days, creating a uniform pattern of months with either 30 or 31 days. Interestingly, Sweden briefly experimented with a 30-day February in 1712. However, deciding which month to shorten would inevitably spark lengthy debates. The suitable dates for removal could be the 31st day of January, March, July, and August.
For the aim of minimizing disruption on the current calendar structure, removing August 31 to add February 30 emerges as a potential solution. This change would result in a structured calendar with alternating 30-day and 31-day months throughout the year, equivalent to the month structure of the Julian calendar in 45 BCE (709 AUC). Consequently, every two months would comprise 61 days. This evenly balanced structure offers divisibility by 2, 3, 4, and 6, simplifying periodic analysis and calculations for various purposes and potentially eliminating the need for memory aids like the "Knuckle Method" to remember month lengths. Notably, this approach aligns with the design principles of the Weeky Calendar. It would be a "Balanced Weeky Calendar".
Month 1 2 *3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 *12 Days 31 293031 30 31 30 31 313030 31 30 30 /31
In a leap year, December 31 would still be the Leap Sunday, following the regular Sunday of December 30. Meanwhile, March 3 will serve as an annual Extended Sunday (or simply Annual Sunday) after the Sunday of March 2. This Annual Sunday could still function as a special worship day for religions, particularly to welcome the new season (spring in the Northern Hemisphere). The Roman calendar traditionally began the year in spring on the first day of March. It's worth noting that March 3 currently coincides with World Wildlife Day and World Hearing Day.
While introducing this system would have a minimal impact during transitions, it would be incompatible with the Gregorian calendar, unlike the Weeky Calendar. Changing all software to accommodate this system would be a much more significant undertaking. Even a progressive transition, starting with the Weeky Calendar, would require widespread acceptance and a global shift to this new calendar system. Achieving such a change would undoubtedly be a challenging and expensive endeavor.Furthermore and ideally, we may consider higher quarterly consistency like the World Calendar, with the first month of each quarter having 31 days and the second month of each quarter having 30 days, in which two days will be removed and two days will be added. Then, March 30 and 31 will be the annual Double Sunday (which could be fixed as Easter) and December 30 and 31 will be the leap year Double Sunday. Even though this could be ideal, it will be a calendar reform with significant cost and effort of change.
Month 1 2 *3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 *12 Days 31 293031 3031313030 31 313030 31 30 30 /31
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Will countries, the United Nations, and the Vatican consider any proposal for a calendar upgrade?
The United Nations has a strong history of fostering international collaboration on complex issues. Calendar reform is no exception. In 1955, the proposed "World Calendar" gained significant traction, but a veto from the United States government postponed the issue. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican declared that it did not oppose efforts aimed at introducing a better calendar into civil society in 1963. It means we must participate and voice out to our nations for a better and more practical calendar system.
While calendar reform remains a topic of exploration and discussion, several proposals are still active. However, the Weeky Calendar stands out as a solution that avoids disruptions and facilitates costless adoption. It is fully compatible and can function in parallel with the Gregorian calendar. Wikipedia’s article on Calendar Reform states: “If a proposed design is sufficiently close to the legacy one, i.e., compatible with it, a reform of the local calendar system is possible without disruption.” The Weeky Calendar achieves this by ensuring all quarters consistently have 13 weeks, offering a smooth and practical upgrade. -
2. Does someone think having the same day of the week for your birthday every year would be boring?
I understand how the element of surprise adds excitement when birthdays fall on different days of the week. However, having a consistent day for birthdays in the Weeky Calendar brings its advantages. It allows you, your family and friends to plan celebrations more easily. The predictability also helps you organize birthdays and yearly events more effectively, making each celebration more meaningful and stress-free, with less risk of missing those important days.
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3. Is it unfair for people whose birthdays always fall on a workday?
Birthday Leave is a benefit offered by many companies and countries, allowing employees to take a paid day off when their birthday falls on a weekday (workday). This ensures that everyone can enjoy their special day, regardless of whether it’s a workday. Some policies even extend to an employee’s spouse. Additionally, many people celebrate their birthdays on their birth-weekends with family and friends. In the Weeky Calendar, the myth of 'Friday the 13th' won’t exist, as every day is equally suited for birthdays. This creates a fair and enjoyable experience for everyone.
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4. Why is Monday the first day of the week in the Weeky Calendar?
The Weeky Calendar adheres to the International Standard of ISO-8601, arranging Monday as the first day of the week. Notably, the Gregorian calendar also designates Monday as the initial day within its 400-year cycle in which the first day of 2001 falled on a Monday.
Although some countries, such as the United States, South America, and China, traditionally claim and present Sunday as the first day of the week, they practically structure their workweeks from Monday to Friday or Saturday, reserving Sunday for rest. Moreover, if a global consensus emerges that Sunday should be the first day of the week, the Weeky Calendar will adapt accordingly. In such a scenario, the first month of every quarter would consistently feature Friday the 13th day.
The Weeky Calendar flexibly supports weeks to be presented first with Monday or Sunday. Furthermore, countries have the liberty to name weekdays according to their cultural or religious practices, in which people work during the first five days and rest or worship during the weekend. Islamic countries and Muslims could designate weekdays accordingly, aligning their worship practices at the weekend with other nations and international financial markets. -
5. Which years are suitable for adopting the Weeky Calendar?
The Weeky Calendar is compatible with the current calendar, utilizing the same month structure and leap years. While we can use both calendar systems in parallel, we have the flexibility to adopt the Weeky Calendar whenever we choose. For a seamless transition without disrupting the sequence of weekdays, any year that begins on a Monday can be considered—such as the common years 2029, 2035, 2046, and so forth, along with the leap years 2024, 2052, and others. People will notice minimal differences when transitioning to the Weeky Calendar, except for its simplicity and practicality. Once adopted, there will be no need for further calendar renewals. Individuals and businesses will reap the benefits indefinitely.
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6. How easy is adding the new "Weeky Day" in the software program?
Weeky Day is the value-added feature of the Weeky Calendar that labels a day with the weekday name (Monday to Sunday) and the week number (1 to 52) presented in superscript. "Weeky Date" is simply the Weeky Day with the year.
While some might believe it could be another Y2K-scale global project, it is, in fact, much simpler than Y2K because it is compatible with the current calendar, and any junior programmers can handle it properly. Adopting the Weeky Calendar is nearly costless. The permanent benefits are waiting for us to use and enjoy.
Adding the new "Weeky Day" function to any software program will be sufficient for adopting and transitioning to the Weeky Calendar. This webpage also contains the source code of the "Weeky Day" function in Javascript, which you can check the code via "DevTools" of an internet browser. Here is an example of "WeekyDay" as an Excel VBA function applicable in any Excel formula, such as the formula of "=WeekyDay(TODAY())" will give "":Public Function WeekyDay(inDate As Date) As String Dim supNumber As Variant: Dim daysAhead As Variant: Dim weeksAhead As Variant 'Using the Superscripted numbers in the Unicode supNumber = Array(8304, 185, 178, 179, 8308, 8309, 8310, 8311, 8312, 8313) daysAhead = Array(0, 0, 3, 4, 0, 2, 5, 0, 3, 5, 0, 3, 5) weeksAhead = Array(0, 1, 5, 9, 14, 18, 22, 27, 31, 35, 40, 44, 48) Dim mth As Integer: mth = VBA.Month(inDate) Dim day As Integer: day = VBA.day(inDate) Dim dwi As Integer: dwi = (daysAhead(mth) + day) Mod 7 If dwi = 0 Or (mth = 9 And day = 1) Or (mth = 12 And day = 31) Then dwi = 7 With WorksheetFunction Dim dow As String dow = .Text(DateSerial(Year:=2001, Month:=1, day:=dwi), "ddd") If (mth = 9 And day = 2) Then dow = dow + .Unichar(8314) ElseIf (mth = 12 And day = 31) Then dow = dow + .Unichar(8314) + .Unichar(8314) Else Dim wks As Integer wks = (daysAhead(mth) + day - dwi) / 7 + weeksAhead(mth) If wks < 10 Then dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(wks)) Else dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(Int(wks / 10))) dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(wks Mod 10)) End If End If End With WeekyDay = dow End FunctionAlternatively, we may simply set the date into the same date of 2024 if it is before September 2 and into 2001 or 2029 if it is after September 2. Certainly, September 2 is Sunday+, while December 31 is Sunday++. The Excel functions of Text(date, "ddd") can get the day of the week and IsoWeekNum(date) can correctly get the week number.
Public Function WeekyDay(inDate As Date) As String Dim supNumber As Variant 'Using the Superscripted numbers in the Unicode supNumber = Array(8304, 185, 178, 179, 8308, 8309, 8310, 8311, 8312, 8313) Dim mth As Integer: mth = VBA.Month(inDate) Dim day As Integer: day = VBA.day(inDate) With WorksheetFunction Dim Sunday As String: Sunday = .Text(DateSerial(Year:=2000, Month:=12, day:=31), "ddd") Dim dow As String If (mth = 9 And day = 1) Then dow = Sunday + .Unichar(supNumber(3)) + .Unichar(supNumber(5)) 'Sunday35 ElseIf (mth = 9 And day = 2) Then dow = Sunday + .Unichar(8314) 'Sunday+ ElseIf (mth = 12 And day = 31) Then dow = Sunday + .Unichar(8314) + .Unichar(8314) 'Sunday++ Else Dim date2 As Date: Dim wks As Integer If mth < 9 Then date2 = DateSerial(Year:=2024, Month:=mth, day:=day) Else date2 = DateSerial(Year:=2001, Month:=mth, day:=day) 'or 2029 End If dow = .Text(date2, "ddd") wks = .IsoWeekNum(date2) If wks < 10 Then dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(wks)) Else dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(Int(wks / 10))) dow = dow + .Unichar(supNumber(wks Mod 10)) End If End If End With WeekyDay = dow End Function -
7. How was the Weeky Calendar initiated and rigorously designed?
In 2018, while teaching my eight-year-old son to read a calendar in Auckland, New Zealand, he posed a series of insightful questions: Why is February the shortest month? Why do July and August have more days? Why does the full moon fall on different days? Why isn't Christmas Day the same as New Year's Day? Why do we renew calendars every year? Ironically, textbooks offered no answers to these basic calendar questions. My research via the internet revealed that the current Gregorian calendar's design is more religious and political than astronomical or practical, and the annual renewal seemed particularly tedious and repetitive. While numerous reform attempts exist, proposing changes like four weeks a month or leap weeks, they all faced a critical challenge: incompatibility with the existing calendar. These disruptions, despite potential long-term benefits, proved impractical and too costly. The transition is unaffordable and mission-impossible.
The Weeky Calendar takes a novel approach to calendar design. It builds upon the strengths of the Gregorian calendar, retaining the familiar calendar structure and usage practices. The core innovation lies in ensuring every date throughout the year consistently falls on the same day of the week, eliminating the need for annual calendar renewals. This design concept emerged from a prototype called "NexCalendar", which served as a valuable tool for gathering feedback and opinions from a diverse range of participants. After undergoing rigorous testing over five years, the Weeky Calendar was designed and announced in January 2024, incorporating insights from these user studies. The Weeky Calendar offers several advantages:
* Consistency: Every year consistently contains 52 weeks, simplifying planning across all sectors.
* Compatibility: Seamless integration with the Gregorian calendar avoids disruption to existing practices and traditions.
* Ease of Use: The familiar structure allows for straightforward adoption by individuals, businesses, and organizations.
By prioritizing compatibility, the Weeky Calendar presents a practical and perfect enhancement of the existing calendar system. Its seamless adoption will benefit individuals, businesses, and society as a whole. -
8. How is the Weeky Calendar compliant with religious beliefs?
The Weeky Calendar offers a compelling and harmonious solution for streamlining the traditional calendar while respecting and reserving its rich history. It seamlessly integrates with the Gregorian calendar, maintaining compatibility with established practices. The key innovation lies in standardizing weeks to ensure each quarter consistently has 13 weeks. This requires the subtle addition of one or two "Extended Sundays" throughout the year. This approach achieves several benefits:
* Consistency: Every year comprises 52 weeks, simplifying planning and scheduling across all sectors, from businesses to religious institutions.
* Compatibility: The Weeky Calendar avoids disruption to existing cultural and religious practices associated with the Gregorian calendar.
* Religious Observance: Extended Sundays can serve as additional days for worship, demonstrating respect for religious communities.
The conventional calendar struggles to align with the Earth's and Moon's cycles, where the orbit of the lunar cycle, averaging 29.53058 days per month, and the Earth’s orbit, with an average of 365.24219 days per year, take roughly 19 years to synchronize and meet again at the same position. None of the relevant astronomical figures are multiples of seven. The Weeky Calendar doesn't attempt a direct astronomical fix. Instead, its focus is on practical improvements for everyday use.
The concept of some exceptional week lengths isn't new in history. Early Romans utilized eight-day weeks before the adoption of the seven-day system. Before Emperor Constantine instituted the seven-day week in 321 CE, a mix of seven-day and eight-day weeks existed, even in the age of Jesus Christ. This historical precedent demonstrates the adaptability of the calendar structure.
The Weeky Calendar presents a pragmatic solution that enhances the existing system, benefiting individuals, businesses, religions, and future generations. It offers a streamlined and respectful approach to improve the calendar system, thereby demonstrating "higher respect" for any religion by correcting the confusing annual renewals and refining the clunky variations of the Gregorian calendar.
We deserve a modern calendar
We indeed possess the right and responsibility to select a calendar system that is simple, pragmatic, and functionally benefiting our generation and those to come. The Weeky Calendar is the most viable upgrade that ensures compatibility with the Gregorian calendar. Moreover, it meets the ESG (Environmental, Social, & Governance) principles, making it a sustainable choice. However, disseminating this remarkable proposal across the globe presents a formidable challenge. We earnestly seek your support and active participation in this endeavour. Together, we can enhance the calendar to serve and benefit all people and businesses efficiently and perpetually.
Your Support
Because we dogmatically adhere to and utilize the calendar, we possess scant knowledge of its intricacies, despite it being our daily system. If you were aware of its convoluted design and the challenges it poses, would you not question why we persist in using such an unconventional calendar without any revisions?
For our generation and those to come, it is imperative that we inform our friends, families, relatives, neighbors, classmates, colleagues, and everyone else that the Weeky Calendar represents the sole viable upgrade to our peculiar calendar. This transition promises a simpler, more practical, versatile, and rational calendar system.
People, businesses, organizations, and countries stand to benefit significantly from adopting the Weeky Calendar. Its compatibility with the current calendar allows for a seamless parallel existence. Moreover, it is pragmatic, memory-friendly, people-friendly, business-friendly, and cost-saving—an advantageous proposition for all. Your support is crucial in making this transition a reality.
Your Sponsor
There are numerous ways to contribute to and sponsor the Weeky Calendar. You can initiate and sponsor campaigns and advocacy efforts anywhere. Additionally, you may offer souvenirs such as T-shirts or coffee mugs featuring the Weeky Calendar. These items will remain permanently usable because the Weeky Calendar is a perpetual calendar applicable to any year.
Our intention is to disseminate the proposal for this essential simplification and enhancement of the calendar and explain the benefits of the Weeky Calendar in universities, associations, public forums, and other relevant platforms. Even if we utilize the internet as our medium, we lack sufficient resources to organize advocacy campaigns in all nations. Your contribution and sponsorship are crucial. Ultimately, we hope that some or all countries will adopt the Weeky Calendar as their civil calendar. Please let us know if you can assist us in realizing this mission.