Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication that serves as a reference source, traditionally focusing on astronomical events, weather forecasts, farming tips, and significant religious dates. Historically, almanacs date back to ancient civilizations, with early examples found in Babylonia and Greece, where they were used to track celestial events and seasons. The introduction of the printing press in the 15th century democratized access to almanacs, leading to their popularity in Europe and colonial America. Notable historical examples include Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack," which combined practical information with humor and moral advice, and "The Old Farmer's Almanac," which has been published since 1792 and is known for its weather predictions. In contemporary times, almanacs have diversified to include a broader range of topics, such as sports, politics, and entertainment, making them valuable resources beyond their traditional agricultural roots. Today, many almanacs are also available online, reflecting their evolution in the digital age while retaining their original purpose of providing useful information.
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Almanac
An almanac is an annual publication containing reference information, most often about astronomical events, weather predictions, farming tips, and dates of religious feasts and holidays. Some almanacs also include historical facts, philosophical sayings, or humorous quotes. Early almanacs were carved in stone or wood and used as calendars to mark the passage of the year. With advancements in printing in the fifteenth century, almanacs became more accessible to the public and were a popular source of information in colonial America. In the twenty-first century, some almanacs have expanded their content, adding information on sports, entertainment, politics, and world events.
History
The origin of the word almanac is unknown, but it is believed to have come from either the Greek word almenichaiaka (calendar), or the Arabic word al-manakh (climate). The precursors of the first almanacs can be traced to Babylonia in the first millennium B.C.E. where astronomers recorded the movements of the planets and stars to predict lunar and planetary events. The ancient Greeks used an inscribed stone calendar called a parapegma, which had a movable peg to note the passing days and any corresponding astronomical or meteorological events. In the second century C.E., the Greek astronomer Ptolemy used a parapegma as the basis for his work Phaseis, a list of dates and accompanying weather changes, solar events, and the movement of stars and constellations. Ptolemy lived at a time when astrology was an accepted science and believed the movement of the heavens could be used to predict weather on Earth.
People in England and Scandinavia of the Middle Ages used a wooden block inscribed with astronomical information called a clog almanac to keep track of the passing year. One of the oldest known written almanacs from the era was authored by rabbi Solomon Jarchus and dates from about 1150. When the printing press was introduced to Europe in the fifteenth century, almanacs became more accessible to the public and grew in popularity. The first printed almanac was published in Germany in 1457, and the first almanac in English—the Shepherd's Kalendar—was published in 1497.
By the seventeenth century, almanacs had developed into more than just a compilation of astronomical data and weather predictions. The books also began to include folksy proverbs, medical advice, philosophical musings, and humorous quips. In colonial America, almanacs became a popular source of entertainment and reference for the mostly farming-oriented population. The first almanac printed in America was published in Massachusetts in 1639 and was soon followed by a host of others.
The most famous American almanac was created in 1732 by Benjamin Franklin, a Philadelphia publisher. Under the pen name Richard Saunders, Franklin began writing Poor Richard's Almanack, a publication that mixed in healthy doses of homespun humor and colorful prose with the usual astronomical and farming information. Poor Richard's Almanack became immensely popular in the colonies, selling ten thousand copies annually by the 1740s. Franklin's witticisms—usually focusing on the values of thriftiness, morality, and hard work—became so well known that many are still used today as common sayings. Some of the more famous include "early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise," and "God helps them that help themselves." Poor Richard's Almanack became so lucrative for Franklin that it accounted for about a third of his income and allowed him to retire from the printing business at age forty-two to focus on his career as a statesman. The last edition of the almanac was published in 1758.
Modern Almanacs
Poor Richard's Almanack may have been the most influential, but other almanacs continued to find success during the next decades and after the American Revolution. One of the most popular almanacs got its start when George Washington was president and is the oldest continuously published periodical in the United States. The Old Farmer's Almanac was first printed in 1792 and contains much of the astronomical data and farming advice common among traditional almanacs. The publication is also well known for its weather predictions, which despite their questionable accuracy are still popular among its more than three million annual readers.
The most common modern almanacs, however, have nothing to do with tide tables and sunset times. In the late nineteenth century, the New York World newspaper began publishing The World Almanac, a reference guide to the major events happening in the United States at the time. In the twentieth century, the publication was renamed The World Almanac and Book of Facts and contained details and statistics about history, geography, world cultures, news events, sports, and other information. Since its first printing in 1868, the almanac has sold more than eighty million copies, making it the best-selling reference guide in United States history. Many modern almanacs are also available online and provide information on a variety of similar topics. Other reference sources are more specialized, offering facts on specific subjects such as baseball, football, movies, television, politics, and many other areas.
Bibliography
Allen, Martin. "What Is a Parapegma?" The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project. The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project. 12 July 2007. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.antikythera-mechanism.gr/faq/astronomical-questions/what-is-a-parapegma
Brewster, H. Pomeroy. Saints and Festivals of the Christian Church. New York: Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1904. Print.
Glick, Thomas F., Steven Livesey, and Faith Wallis, eds. Medieval Science, Technology, and Medicine: An Encyclopedia. New York: Routledge, 2005. Print.
"History of the Old Farmer's Almanac." The Old Farmer's Almanac. Yankee Publishing, Inc. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.almanac.com/content/history-old-farmers-almanac
"History of the World Almanac." The World Almanac. World Almanac. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.worldalmanac.com/wa-wahist-learning-resources.aspx
Leopold, Todd. "Should You Believe the Old Farmer's Almanac's Winter Forecast?" CNN.com. Cable News Network. 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/19/living/old-farmers-almanac-weather-accuracy-feat/
Morgan, Lisa. "The Prominent and Prodigiously Popular Poor Richard." Pennsylvania Center for the Book. The Pennsylvania State University. 2008. Web. 17 Dec. 2015. http://pabook2.libraries.psu.edu/palitmap/PoorRichardsAlmanack.html