There were different standards in Europe during the middle ages and early modern period. Some places retained a date closer to the Roman New Year around the ver

There were different standards in Europe during the middle ages and early modern period. Some places retained a date closer to the Roman New Year around the vernal equinox. These places used the Feast of the Annunciation (March 25). Other places (usually in the north) inherited a date closer to the winter solstice and so they used the Feast of the Circumcision (January 1). As trade between countries grew during the early modern period countries began to standardize on the Feast of the Circumcision. England was a holdout, though and if you look at record from the first half of the 18th century, they will often include both years for dates between Jan 1 and March 25. The British Parliament formally adopted "Circumcision dates" to come into agreement with the continent in 1751. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_(New_Style)_Act_1750 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar_(New_Style)_Act_1750