The world very nearly adopted a calendar with 13 months of 28 days

A mercantile calendar for the year 1860. The Gregorian calendar we're familiar with was nearly replaced in the 1920s and 30s with the International Fixed Calendar, with 13 months of 28 days. (John H. Duyckinck/Library of Congress)In the aftermath of World War I, delegates from dozens of countries met at a League of Nations conference in Geneva hoping to create a universal calendar that would unite the world. It was my great-great-grandfather’s job to stop them.

The thought of the Sabbath falling on Wednesdays had the Jewish world up in arms. “On the morrow of all this woe and disillusion, and on the brink of such threatened upheaval, the League of Nations could still think it worth while to embark on a quixotic enterprise like calendar tinkering,” lamented Chief Rabbi of England Joseph Hertz in his 1931 paper “The Battle for the Sabbath at Geneva.

The fourth General League of Nations Conference on Communication and Transit began on Oct. 12, 1931. Hundreds of calendar proposals had been submitted, but only one was really under consideration: the International Fixed Calendar. And the attitude among government delegates at the conference seemed to be that the IFC was all but a done deal.On the opening day, Hertz was among the first to speak.

His argument was practical rather than religious, outlining logistical disadvantages of the new scheme: Every insurance premium, he pointed out, every monthly or quarterly rate, every contract worldwide that included dates from the Gregorian calendar would have to be renegotiated. Bonds coming due at certain times would be thrown into confusion. The litigation would be never-ending.

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Daylight saving time is here again, and it looks like it might stay for a whileThe man who originally introduced the bill, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, reintroduced the bill to Congress in March.
Source: KPRC2 - 🏆 80. / 68 Read more »

Daylight saving time is here again, and it looks like it might stay for a whileThe man who originally introduced the bill, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, reintroduced the bill to Congress in March.
Source: wjxt4 - 🏆 246. / 63 Read more »

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 5: How To Adjust QuicklyKerry Breen is a reporter and associate editor for TODAY.com, where she reports on health news, pop culture and more. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.
Source: TODAYshow - 🏆 389. / 55 Read more »

Did Coldplay Singer Chris Martin's Ancestor Invent Daylight Saving?The Coldplay frontman was said to come from family that introduced daylight saving time.
Source: Newsweek - 🏆 468. / 52 Read more »

Daylight saving time: Here's how it could impact your healthWhile some people might appreciate the extra hour of sleep, daylight saving time could have some effects on your sleep patterns and health.
Source: fox5ny - 🏆 587. / 51 Read more »

Turn your clocks back: Daylight saving time ends this weekendDaylight saving time ends this Sunday as the debate for whether the practice is needed resurfaces.
Source: FOX10News - 🏆 581. / 51 Read more »