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On the Old Calendars of the Icelanders 1

Abstract

THE old Icelandic system of measuring time, which to some extent still holds its ground in the island, has the peculiarity of being based on the week as its fundamental unit of measurement, although it recognises a year consisting of fifty-two weeks, the 364 days of which were included in twelve months of thirty days each. To the last of these months, which belonged to the summer, four days were added under the name of Sumar-auke or “summer addition.” In accordance with this arrangement every given day of a month always fell on one and the same day of the week, as in the lunar year's calendar the first day of each month coincides with the period of new moon.

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References

  1. "Om Islændernes gamle Kalendere." By Herr Geelmuyden, Naturen. No. 4, 1883.

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On the Old Calendars of the Icelanders 1 . Nature 28, 303–304 (1883). https://doi.org/10.1038/028303a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/028303a0

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