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Have you heard of Yankee Institute? It’s where I work. But it’s more than simply my day job; it’s part of a mission to change Connecticut’s trajectory — from the typical economic bottom-rankings to a prosperous, innovative state that families, businesses and others can proudly call home.
For those unaware, Yankee Institute is one of the country’s oldest state-based think tanks, championing limited government; fairness for taxpayers; and an open road to opportunity for all the people of our state.
But we are a non-profit. We depend on your generosity to keep the lights on, and to be — as William F. Buckley, Jr. once wrote — those standing athwart history, yelling “Stop.” Here is a brief list of ideas/policies we pumped the brakes on this past year (like stalling electric vehicle car mandates that would’ve only hurt low-to-middle class residents, among other complications).
While I research issues of the day, among my greatest joys at work is sharing stories from Connecticut history under the banner “Hidden in the Oak,” which is an homage to when the state’s Royal Charter of 1662 was hidden in an oak tree from the English governor-general. I’ve written about:
…and many others, all of which you can find here.
But year’s end is certainly a contemplative time. As I reflect on “Hidden in the Oak” and our state’s interesting history, I am reminded why we study our past in the first place: our history informs us about who we are, what we value, and is a guide to a brighter future.
Conversely, a people lacking this collective memory will ultimately become rudderless and lose sight of our commonalities with our neighbors. In short, we do not exist in a vacuum. Generations will follow and look to us as models.
Ultimately, we must consider: what type of stories do we want to leave behind? Those of despair or hope?
If you enjoy these stories and would like for them to continue, please support Yankee Institute.
Also, it’s more imperative to donate TODAY! My coworkers and I are having a friendly competition as part of our “End of the Year” fundraising campaign, and the person who “earns” the most wins a prize — and also, more importantly, bragging rights.
BUT TODAY — DEC 30 — IS THE ONLY DAY THAT WILL COUNT FOR ME.
So please, don’t wait! DONATE HERE.
No value is too big or too small. But, if you do give, I will be forever grateful.
With that, here’s one last fun fact about Connecticut for the year…
When Connecticut Changed New Year’s
As we enter a new year, it’s worth noting that January 1 was not always New Year’s Day in Connecticut.
Prior to 1752, Connecticut — along with other English territories — marked the new year on March 25. The discrepancy is traced back to the Julian calendar, implemented by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C.
Initially, the calendar system moved the new year from March 1 to January 1; however, by the 1500s, it “differed from the actual astronomical year by eleven minutes,” producing a “cumulative error of 1 day every 128 years,” according to “Today in Connecticut History.” Meanwhile, as noted by the Connecticut State Library, the new year also “gradually realigned to coincide with Christian festivals” in the 7th century; and in the 9th century, pockets of Europe observed March 25 as the new year, coinciding with the Feast of the Annunciation (when the angel Gabriel visited the Virgin Mary, informing her that she would bear a son, Jesus Christ).
Yet the seasonal equinoxes that determine holidays, such as Easter, did not align with “astronomical reality,” according to “Today in Connecticut History.” Therefore, in 1588, Pope Gregory XIII modified the calendar to “maintain intact the ancient rites of the Church,” as he wrote in his papal bull, Inter Gravissimas. While Catholic countries quickly adopted the Gregorian calendar (observing the new year on January 1), Protestant nations, like England, “resisted” papal authority by retaining the Julian system. Thus, when Connecticut was settled as an English colony in 1636, it operated under this calendar.
Unsurprisingly, the two calendar systems caused confusion between European countries; so much so, English documents were often marked with initials O.S. (Old Style) and N.S. (New Style) to correspond to the system being used. By the early 1750s, an 11-day difference existed between the Gregorian and Julian calendars.
Parliament finally decided to implement the Gregorian calendar in the British Calendar Act of 1751, one of the last European governments to do so.
However, to match the new system, dates had to be eliminated — so in September, the 2nd was followed by the 14th. Reaction to the “popish” Gregorian calendar was mixed from an interfaith perspective, while humorously “many people mistakenly believed that their lives would be shortened by 11 days,” according to Historic UK. There were also rumors of riots that chanted “Give us our eleven days,” but those have long since been discredited.
Despite the initial “lost” days, Connecticut has rung in the new year on January 1 ever since.
I hope you had a wonderful Hanukkah and Christmas; and I pray you, your family and loved ones have a blessed new year.
Peace & Love,
Andy