Tech
The 10-Day Loss in the Calendar in the Year 1582
As a result of the calendar reform ordered by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, 10 days were lost. This change was accepted worldwide and is still in use today.
When we look at the calendar of our cell phones, we can notice a skipped period from October 4th to October 15th in the year 1582. However, these missing 10 days are not the result of a magical event, but a reflection of a historical change.
When we go back to the year 1582, a large part of Europe was using the Julian calendar. However, the Catholic Church accepted the Gregorian calendar, and during this transition, 10 days disappeared. The Gregorian calendar, unlike the Julian calendar, included changes in the way leap years were determined.
With the change in the date of the vernal equinox, the Gregorian calendar became necessary. The error in the Julian calendar over centuries changed the date of the vernal equinox and disrupted the timing of Easter. Pope Gregory XIII initiated a new calendar to solve this problem, leading to the decision to skip 10 days.
After the Feast of St. Francis on October 4th, the transition to the Gregorian calendar was made, and the date suddenly jumped to October 15th. Therefore, a 10-day gap was created between the dates. Even today, this historical change is visible in our calendars as the 10 days lost in October 1582.