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These two posts I received from another list. I found them very interesting. Hope this helps. Linda cg Ben 69/5 [log in to unmask] >>US Naval Observatory: http://psyche.usno.navy.mil/millennium/whenIs.html When Is the New Millennium? mil*len*ni*um \ \ n, pl -nia or -niums: a period of 1000 years The end of the second millennium and the beginning of the third will be reached on January 1, 2001. This date is based on a now globally recognized calendar established by the sixth-century scholar Dionysius Exiguus, who was compiling a table of dates of Easter. Rather than starting with the year ZERO, years in this calendar begin with the date January 1, 1 Anno Domini (AD). Consequently, the next millennium does not begin until January 1, 2001 AD. >>The MILLENIUM issue! While many people consider the year 2000 the start of a new millenium, this is not the case... In actuality, the new millenium begins in the year 2001. The current millenium has its' last second tick at precisely 11:59:59 on December 31, 2000. Why is this the case you ask?? GOOD QUESTION!! The year 2000, also known as 2000 A.D. (informally) or A.D. 2000 (formally), or even anno Domini 2000, is a year based on the Christian religous calendar. It refers specifically to the time after Christ (obviously why B.C. refers to before Christ). While there have been several calendars since that time, the current one being the Gregorian calendar, this doesn't make much difference. While no calendars using the Gregorian method was around back then, essentially (and effectively), the first day after Christ was considered January 1, 1, the second January 2, 1, and so on... As a result, the new millenium (or 3rd millenium) starts on January 1, 2001. You could also apply this to the new century (the 21st century) which starts on January 1, 2001, and the new decade (the 201st decade) which starts on January 1, 2001. WAIT!! You ask what about the new year?? Well, the new year (the 1998th year) starts January 1, 1998. Or perhaps you meant the 2000th year which starts January 1, 2000... Still a little confused on how things start in 2001??? Consider this -- the first millenium was from January 1, 1 - December 31, 1000 (one thousand years), the second millenium was from January 1, 1001 - December 31, 2000, and the third millenium will be from January 1, 2001 - December 31, 3000. You can apply this to centuries and decades as well (ie: 1st century: January 1, 1 - December 31, 100, 2nd: January 1, 101 - December 31, 200, etc.) Head spinning a little still?? One more time... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,..., 1000 = one thousand years. Therefore, January 1, 1 - December 31, 1000 = one thousand years = one millenium. How come is not 999 or 1999 or 2999?? Well, have you ever heard of a year labeled as the year 0?? Of course not! Wouldn't it sound a little weird to say March 17, 0 ?? That's the only way, however, you could have one thousand years end at 999 or 1999 or even 2999... So why is it that everything is refered to as they are?? One word: CONVENIENCE!! It's easier to think of 1990-1999 as a decade (the 90's) or 2000-2999 as a millenium or 1900-1999 as a century. Just consider the fact the we are currently in the 20th century (in the 1900s). Then ask yourself when life in general isn't confusing, and how many things are done to make it seem less confusing...