Nisan-years
Encyclopedia
Nisan-years is an ancient calendar system used around Mesopotamia
. Its area of usage covers Elam, Persia, Media, Syria and Israel/Judea. Its beginning was from prehistorical era. Ever since Mesopotamia had historical writings, even before the Old Babylonian Empire of Hammurabi
, its calendar used the Nisan-years.
Nisan-years is often called the Jewish Religious Calendar, in contrast to Tishri-years
, which is often called the Jewish Civil Calendar
.
Nisan-years belongs to the Lunisolar calendar
system, in which the lunar years and the solar years are synchronized by adding in an intercalary month in a leap year
. Three ancient civilizations (Babylonia
, China
, and Israel
) knew that by adding in seven intercalary months in nineteen years (called a Small Mahzor
in the Jewish Talmudic Calendar
, and the Metonic Cycle
in non-Jewish context), the solar and the lunar years are basically synchronized . Since a tropical year
is 365.2422 days, and a synodic month is averaged 29.53059 days, in nineteen years the solar and the lunar calendars will only differ by about two hours, or 1 part in 80,000.
Nisan-years begins from the Spring season. Technically, its New Years Day is the day after the New Moon
closest to (within fifteen days before or after) the Vernal Equinox (Spring Equinox, when the day and the night is of equal length, set at March 21 in the Gregorian Calendar
). It begins the first month, named Nisanu/Nisan/Abib. The month of Nisan is important since it begins the Spring Feasts
of Israel.
The observation of the New Moon
may be influenced by the weather condition, so the Rosh Codesh
may be delayed for one or two days. But over all the errors cancel each other, and the calendar system remains accurate.
The intercalary month could be a second Sixth Month (Ululu II), as often practiced in Mesopatamia, or a second Twelfth Month (Adar II, Adar Sheni, or ve-Adar) as consistently practices in Israel.
The way to determine whether or not an intercalary month should be added was by agricultural observation in Israel. If by the end of a Nisan-year, barley did not grow spikes (called Abib in the Canaanite language, e.g. Tel-Aviv is the "Hill of the Barley Spikes"), the season is too cold, and an intercalary month should be added as the Second Adar, so that barley can be harvested in the month of Nisan. Jewish tradition fixed Nisan 17, the third day after Passover (Nisan 15), as the Feast of the First Fruits in Israel, when a portion of the harvested barley is dedicated to God as a Thanksgiving. The Torah
, however, fixed it on the first Sunday after the Passover (Leviticus
23:9-14). It can be shown that in 1446 B.C., recognized as the "early date" of Exodus, Nisan 17 happened to be a Sunday.
It seems that Israel learned of the Nisan-years calendar system by Abraham
, who came out of Ur of Chaldees
, and used it consistently through the time of Moses
and David
. However, since David became the king of Judah
(the southern two tribes) before he became the king of Israel
(the norther ten tribes), and the day of ordination seemed to be Tishri 1, the first day of the seventh month, later the southern kingdom Judah
used another calendar system, the Tishri-years
. The tradition was still kept by the modern Jews, and they extended it to the time of creation.
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. Its area of usage covers Elam, Persia, Media, Syria and Israel/Judea. Its beginning was from prehistorical era. Ever since Mesopotamia had historical writings, even before the Old Babylonian Empire of Hammurabi
Hammurabi
Hammurabi Hammurabi Hammurabi (Akkadian from Amorite ʻAmmurāpi, "the kinsman is a healer", from ʻAmmu, "paternal kinsman", and Rāpi, "healer"; (died c...
, its calendar used the Nisan-years.
Nisan-years is often called the Jewish Religious Calendar, in contrast to Tishri-years
Tishri-years
Tishri-years is an ancient calendar system used in Israel/Judea, and the Jewish people in Diaspora. It is based on, and is a variation of, the Nisan-years....
, which is often called the Jewish Civil Calendar
Tishri-years
Tishri-years is an ancient calendar system used in Israel/Judea, and the Jewish people in Diaspora. It is based on, and is a variation of, the Nisan-years....
.
Nisan-years belongs to the Lunisolar calendar
Lunisolar calendar
A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will...
system, in which the lunar years and the solar years are synchronized by adding in an intercalary month in a leap year
Leap year
A leap year is a year containing one extra day in order to keep the calendar year synchronized with the astronomical or seasonal year...
. Three ancient civilizations (Babylonia
Babylonia
Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia , with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as a major power when Hammurabi Babylonia was an ancient cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq), with Babylon as its capital. Babylonia emerged as...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) knew that by adding in seven intercalary months in nineteen years (called a Small Mahzor
Small Mahzor
A Small Mahzor is a 19-year cycle in the Lunisolar calendar system used by the Jewish People. It is similar to, but slightly different in usage with, the Greek Metonic Cycle....
in the Jewish Talmudic Calendar
Jewish Talmudic Calendar
The Jewish Talmudic Calendar is a lunisolar calendar using Tishri-years, observed by the Jewish people since the Late Antiquity . While it is based on Nisan-years, which began from the prebiblical Babylonian times , and the Tishri-years was formed in the time of David The Jewish Talmudic Calendar...
, and the Metonic Cycle
Metonic cycle
In astronomy and calendar studies, the Metonic cycle or Enneadecaeteris is a period of very close to 19 years which is remarkable for being very nearly a common multiple of the solar year and the synodic month...
in non-Jewish context), the solar and the lunar years are basically synchronized . Since a tropical year
Tropical year
A tropical year , for general purposes, is the length of time that the Sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from Earth; for example, the time from vernal equinox to vernal equinox, or from summer solstice to summer solstice...
is 365.2422 days, and a synodic month is averaged 29.53059 days, in nineteen years the solar and the lunar calendars will only differ by about two hours, or 1 part in 80,000.
Nisan-years begins from the Spring season. Technically, its New Years Day is the day after the New Moon
New moon
In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth...
closest to (within fifteen days before or after) the Vernal Equinox (Spring Equinox, when the day and the night is of equal length, set at March 21 in the Gregorian Calendar
Gregorian calendar
The Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
). It begins the first month, named Nisanu/Nisan/Abib. The month of Nisan is important since it begins the Spring Feasts
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
of Israel.
| Month Number | Babylonian Name | Jewish Name | Canaanite Name | Gregorian Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | Nisanu | Nisan | Abib | March–April |
| Second | Aianu | Iyyar | Ziv | April–May |
| Third | Simanu | Sivan | May–June | |
| Fourth | Duzu | Tammuz | June–July | |
| Fifth | Abu | Av | July–August | |
| Sixth | Ululu | Elul | August–September | |
| Seventh | Tishritu | Tishri | Ethanim | September–October |
| Eighth | Arahsamnu | Heshvan/Macheshvan | Bul | October–November |
| Ninth | Kislimu | Kislev | November–December | |
| Tenth | Tebetu | Tevet | December–January | |
| Eleventh | Shabatu | Shevat | Tsakh | January–February |
| Twelfth | Addaru | Adar | February–March |
The observation of the New Moon
New moon
In astronomical terminology, the new moon is the lunar phase that occurs when the Moon, in its monthly orbital motion around Earth, lies between Earth and the Sun, and is therefore in conjunction with the Sun as seen from Earth...
may be influenced by the weather condition, so the Rosh Codesh
Rosh Codesh
Rosh Codesh , the "Head of the New " ="Head of the Month," is the term for the first day of the month in Jewish Talmudic Calendar...
may be delayed for one or two days. But over all the errors cancel each other, and the calendar system remains accurate.
The intercalary month could be a second Sixth Month (Ululu II), as often practiced in Mesopatamia, or a second Twelfth Month (Adar II, Adar Sheni, or ve-Adar) as consistently practices in Israel.
The way to determine whether or not an intercalary month should be added was by agricultural observation in Israel. If by the end of a Nisan-year, barley did not grow spikes (called Abib in the Canaanite language, e.g. Tel-Aviv is the "Hill of the Barley Spikes"), the season is too cold, and an intercalary month should be added as the Second Adar, so that barley can be harvested in the month of Nisan. Jewish tradition fixed Nisan 17, the third day after Passover (Nisan 15), as the Feast of the First Fruits in Israel, when a portion of the harvested barley is dedicated to God as a Thanksgiving. The Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, however, fixed it on the first Sunday after the Passover (Leviticus
Leviticus
The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah ....
23:9-14). It can be shown that in 1446 B.C., recognized as the "early date" of Exodus, Nisan 17 happened to be a Sunday.
It seems that Israel learned of the Nisan-years calendar system by Abraham
Abraham
Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...
, who came out of Ur of Chaldees
Chaldea
Chaldea or Chaldaea , from Greek , Chaldaia; Akkadian ; Hebrew כשדים, Kaśdim; Aramaic: ܟܐܠܕܘ, Kaldo) was a marshy land located in modern-day southern Iraq which came to briefly rule Babylon...
, and used it consistently through the time of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
and David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
. However, since David became the king of Judah
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
(the southern two tribes) before he became the king of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
(the norther ten tribes), and the day of ordination seemed to be Tishri 1, the first day of the seventh month, later the southern kingdom Judah
Kingdom of Judah
The Kingdom of Judah was a Jewish state established in the Southern Levant during the Iron Age. It is often referred to as the "Southern Kingdom" to distinguish it from the northern Kingdom of Israel....
used another calendar system, the Tishri-years
Tishri-years
Tishri-years is an ancient calendar system used in Israel/Judea, and the Jewish people in Diaspora. It is based on, and is a variation of, the Nisan-years....
. The tradition was still kept by the modern Jews, and they extended it to the time of creation.