A viral video on Instagram by the user Real Truth has ignited curiosity and debate. The video claims that October in 1582 had 10 fewer days than usual, urging users to check their computer or smartphone calendars for October 1582. It reveals a surprising anomaly: the dates jump from October 4 to October 15.
The video caption, “Today’s Date Is Wrong,” hints at a deeper mystery behind the missing days. The video shows the calendar for October 1582, with dates from October 5 to October 14 missing. This has left viewers puzzled, sparking numerous questions and comments. One user asked, “What happened the second week of October in 1582 that made it disappear from history?” Another explained, “To align the calendar with the solar year more accurately, 10 days were removed in October 1582.”
Some commenters made light of the situation, joking about a “calendar glitch,” while others speculated about the reasons behind this unusual event.
What happened to the calendar in 1582
The truth, however, lies in historical facts. Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson addressed this topic in a tweet, explaining that by 1582, the Julian calendar had accumulated ten extra days compared to Earth’s orbit. Pope Gregory XIII corrected this by canceling 10 days that year, making October 4 directly followed by October 15.
Pope Gregory XIII introduced the Gregorian calendar reform to correct the Julian calendar’s inaccuracies. The reform aimed to realign the calendar with the seasons. This ensured important dates like the spring equinox and Easter fell at the right times.
The Gregorian calendar, introduced on October 15, 1582, removed 10 days to correct the discrepancy. This change was first adopted by Catholic countries like Italy, Spain, and Portugal, while Protestant and Orthodox countries gradually followed over the following centuries.
