But, as we now know, the #JulianCalendar's mean year is about 11 minutes 15 seconds longer than the #TropicalYear, and by the 4th century AD, the dates of the #solstices and #equinoxes had drifted from their official dates by several days.

In the 16th century, #Pope Gregory XIII used his authority as #PontifexMaximus to reform the calendar again, because that is something #popes can do.

@Gila I've a similar attitude to all #holidays that are #culturally or #socially sanctioned.

#Solstices and #Equinoxes I give a hoot about: they are definitive physical manifestations of our little blue and green ball flying round the fireball sun.

They mark the seasons; planting, growing, harvesting, hibernating.

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