Julian & Gregorian Calendar

On the 31st of March 1919, Romania changed its calendar, from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. As a result, the date on the following day became the 14^th of April 1919.

If you have a Romanian document which has a date on it prior to April 1919, the date which appears there refers to the date according to the Julian calendar.

To convert the date on a document issued in Romania prior to April 1919 to the date according to the present Gregorian calendar, add 14 days. Thus, for example, a birth certificate dated 31^st July 1893 should be thought of as issued on the 14^th August 1893.                             
(31^st July + 14 days = 14^th August)

This is probably the reason that many 19^th and early 20^th century immigrants who came from Eastern Europe were not certain of their date of birth.

Please note that the date change in the move from the Julian to Gregorian calendar in Romania was not the same in all other countries. These discrepancies may have also caused some confusion.

.

.

(