“In Italian cities, as in much of medieval Europe, the new year used to be celebrated on 25 March, the feast day of the Annunciation, nine months before Christmas.
Also known as “Lady Day”, unlike Easter, it was fixed in the calendar.
In Britain, the new year began on 25 March until 1752, when our calendar changed from the Julian to the Gregorian and the dates were adjusted so that the new year started on 5 April which became an important feast day for accountants and tax lawyers.”
Source: The Spectator, 8 April 2023
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