Jens ClasenDec 21, 2022

The German phrase "zwischen den Jahren" ("between the years") refers to the days between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day or - depending on who you ask - the 6th of January (Epiphany).

So, if your German friends don't answer the phone or open the door during that period, please remember:

They are spending their holidays in a non-existing time-slot between 2 consecutive years.

Enjoy our language!

#TheGermanWord

Show threadMiss SophieDec 21, 2022
@jensclasen
Explanation
The lunar year is only 354 days long, so 11 days are missing to the astronomically correct annual course of the sun. Before the Gregorian calendar unified the counting of time from the 16th century, the old year ended on December 24th in large parts of Europe. The new one began on January 6th. The missing eleven days - or 12 nights - were simply appended at the end, giving rise to the term "between the years". So this is a very old tradition to use this term 😁
Show threadPetra TabarelliDec 22, 2022
@MissSophie @jensclasen @bawHH New Year on 6 Jan? But how can it be that before the 16th century the Circumcisions style (1 Jan) as the beginning of the year was used? In the European Middle Ages either the Christmas style (beginning of the year 25 Dec) or Easter style (varying beginning of the year) was popular. A beginning of the year on 6 Jan is new for me. It was definitely not widespread.
Show threadPetra Tabarelli
@MissSophie @jensclasen @bawHH Before the Gregorian calendar, which was adapted between 1562 and the 18th century, there was the Julian calendar. But here too: The year does not begin on 6 Jan. But on 1 Mar, so February has fewer days and Sept(7)ember has 7 in its name, Novem(9)ber has 9, etc.
When the Gregorian calendar was introduced in Catholic areas in 1562, 10 days had to be skipped because of the missing hours. But the Julian calendar was not a
Dec 22, 2022 at 4:07pmWeb
Show threadPetra TabarelliDec 22, 2022

@MissSophie @jensclasen @bawHH lunar calendar, but was just missing 11 minutes and a few seconds. (-> leap day every 4 years except in years divisible by 100 but not by 400 without remainder.)

DR;TL: The days between 21 Dec and 6 Jan existed all times. 25 Dec was the mainly beginning of the year in the Middle Ages. The "time between the years" simply the difference between lunar and solar calendar. It has nothing to do with the beginning of the year.

Show threadMiss SophieDec 24, 2022
@clio https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwischen_den_Jahren 🤷‍♀️
Frohe Weihnachten
Zwischen den Jahren – Wikipedia

Show threadPetra TabarelliDec 24, 2022

@MissSophie Oh, das ist ja ein schĂśnes Beispiel fĂźr ein mangelhaftes Reviewverfahren in der Wikipedia. Chronologie ist nun kein Randthema.

(1/2) Es gibt einen anderen Wikipediaartikel, in dem es richtig und sogar detailreich steht. Der 6.1. war demnach im Alemannisch-Schwäbischen kein unbekanntes Neujahr.
https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christliche_Jahreszählung

Christliche Jahreszählung – Wikipedia

Show threadPetra TabarelliDec 24, 2022

@MissSophie (2/2) Gut, Wikipedia-Artikel gegen Wikipedia-Artikel. Nehmen wir dann mal den Grotefend. Ist ja immer noch die fĂźhrende Quelle in der Chronologie.

Fein, dass es ihn mittlerweile auch online gibt. Da mĂźssen wir unter System und Jahresanfang schauen: http://bilder.manuscripta-mediaevalia.de/gaeste//grotefend/grotefend.htm

Fßr die bessere Lesbarkeit habe ich den Abschnitt mal näher rangezoomt.

Grotefend

Der Grosse Grotefend online

Show threadPetra TabarelliDec 24, 2022
@MissSophie Gerade gefunden, was noch hilfreich ist: http://bilder.manuscripta-mediaevalia.de/gaeste//grotefend/grotefend.htm - Siehe „Weihnachtsanfang“.
Grotefend

Der Grosse Grotefend online