The Gregorian Calendar is the most widely used calendar in the world. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 and has been in use ever since. The spelling of "Gregorian" is commonly pronounced with the stress on the second syllable: /ɡrɛˈɡɔːrɪən/ (greh-GOR-ee-ən). The word is spelled with a "G" at the beginning, followed by "reg" and a double "o" sound, pronounced as /gɹəˈɡɔɹiən/ (gruh-GOR-ee-un). It is important to spell this word accurately, as it is commonly used in academic and administrative contexts.
The Gregorian Calendar is the most widely used calendar system in the world today. It is a solar calendar that was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 as a reform of the Julian Calendar, which had become slightly inaccurate due to a discrepancy in the length of a year. The Gregorian Calendar is named after Pope Gregory XIII in recognition of his contribution to its implementation.
This calendar follows a consistent pattern with 365 days, divided into twelve months, and every fourth year includes an additional day, known as a leap year, to align with the Earth's orbit around the sun. This extra day is added to the month of February, making it 29 days instead of the usual 28.
The Gregorian Calendar established January 1st as the first day of the year in most countries, although some cultures still celebrate New Year's Day on different dates. It uses a combination of the solar and lunar cycles to assign dates to religious observances, such as Easter, which falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March equinox.
The adoption of the Gregorian Calendar has largely standardized the measurement of time worldwide and has become the international standard for civil use. It has greatly facilitated global communication, commerce, and coordination, as it provides a consistent framework for scheduling and organizing social, business, and official activities.
The calendar as reformed by Pope Gregory XIII. in 1582.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "Gregorian" in "Gregorian Calendar" is derived from the name of Pope Gregory XIII, who introduced this calendar in 1582. The Gregorian Calendar was a reform of the previous Julian Calendar, which had been in use for over 1600 years. Pope Gregory XIII appointed a commission of astronomers to make adjustments to the calendar system to align it more accurately with the solar year, incorporating corrections to the length of the year and the timing of leap years. The revised calendar was named after the Pope who implemented it, becoming known as the Gregorian Calendar in his honor.