mil-len-ni-um (n). A span of one thousand years.
The
Arrival of the new millennium has sparked a great debate: when does it actually
begin? Our instincts told us to celebrate on December 31, 1999. But logic says
that every millennium is made up of 1000 years – which means that the year
2000 belongs to the second not the third. Credit for this confusing state of
affairs goes to Dennis the Diminutive, a sixth century monk who prepared a
calendar for Pope St. John I. Instead of beginning his calendar at year 0,
Dennis started with 1 A.D. – bequeathing us the chronological quandary we
face today. So what is the answer? According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the
third millennium begins on January 1, 2001. Evenso, most Americans and much of
the world focused on the flip of the calendar from '99 to '00. White
House millennium programs began in 1997 and will run through January 1, 2001.
Greeting a new millennium is a once-in-a-thousand years experience…
let's make the celebration last!
In the information that follows, you will find descriptions of national
and local projects already under way, examples to draw from, models to build on
and potential sources of help. We hope this site will help Americans of all
ages build new bridges and repair old breaches – welcoming the next one
thousand years in a spirit of remembrance, hope and joy.
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