No need to m'aidez

[french frank]

What has puzzled me for the last few minutes is

a. where does that line come from anyway? (forgive my ignorance)
b. when is somebody going to end that ridiculous U.K. Tax year date of 5th April, and make it 31st March, or even better, 31st December?

a) http://www.metrolyrics.com/mountain-...itzgerald.html

b)

[vinteuil]

b. when is somebody going to end that ridiculous U.K. Tax year date of 5th April, and make it 31st March, or even better, 31st December?

... I think it is quite sensible that the tax year should end March/April rather than December/January. Not just for historical reasons. For those even indirectly involved with finance, banking, investment, taxation, accountancy - a lot of work has to be done in the week/weeks at the end of the Financial Year, and at the week/weeks at the beginning of the next Financial Year. As long as we have our current Christmas and New Year holidays, to choose the last couple of weeks in December / beginning of January for this heavy period of work and upheaval would not be a very clever idea.

[cincinnatus]

What has puzzled me for the last few minutes is

a. where does that line come from anyway? (forgive my ignorance)
b. when is somebody going to end that ridiculous U.K. Tax year date of 5th April, and make it 31st March, or even better, 31st December?

French Frank has posted the lyrics. They were written by Lorenz Hart to a melody of Richard Rodgers and sung by Ella Fitzgerald in her wonderful Rodgers and Hart Songbook album. I also recall a recording of it in the 1950s by Mel Torme. Hope that helps.
Sorry, I should have added that the song's title is Mountain Greenery.

[Sir Velo]

What has puzzled me for the last few minutes is

b. when is somebody going to end that ridiculous U.K. Tax year date of 5th April, and make it 31st March, or even better, 31st December?

Until 1582 New Year's Day was 25 March, so the fiscal year ended on 24 March. At this point, Pope Gregory X111 ordered a change of calendar from the Julian to the solar calendar. By the C16th the Julian was behind the solar calendar by 10 days. However, the British did not make the change in 1582, so there was a difference of 10 days between the calendar in Britain and the rest of Europe. By 1752 the difference had increased to 11 days.

In order to ensure no loss of tax revenue, the Treasury decided that the taxation year which started on 25th March 1752 would be of the usual length (365 days) and therefore it would end on 5th April, the following tax year beginning on 6th April.

As it happens, most UK companies use 31 December as the end of their financial year. The NHS and most charities use 31 March. Universities, and other educational institutions use 31 July.

[teamsaint]

Used to like it back in the day when folks had to have their babies before April 5th to get their tax allowance for the year !

Incidentally, I was under the impression that Quarter Days were what the bosses at work do .

[Pabmusic]

Until 1582 New Year's Day was 25 March, so the fiscal year ended on 24 March. At this point, Pope Gregory X111 ordered a change of calendar from the Julian to the solar calendar. By the C16th the Julian was behind the solar calendar by 10 days. However, the British did not make the change in 1582, so there was a difference of 10 days between the calendar in Britain and the rest of Europe. By 1752 the difference had increased to 11 days.

In order to ensure no loss of tax revenue, the Treasury decided that the taxation year which started on 25th March 1752 would be of the usual length (365 days) and therefore it would end on 5th April, the following tax year beginning on 6th April.

As it happens, most UK companies use 31 December as the end of their financial year. The NHS and most charities use 31 March. Universities, and other educational institutions use 31 July.

Yes, and Russia didn't adopt the Gregorian calendar until 1918. Stravinsky, for instance, was born on 5 June 1882 (old style) or 17 June 1882 (new style) - a difference of 12 days. Kalinnikov's birthday similarly differed by 12 days (1 or 13 January 1866) but the date of his death differed by 13 days, as it fell in a different century (30 December 1900 or 11 January 1901).

The battle of Bosworth was fought on Saturday 22 August 1485. If we were to convert it to our present calendar (which we don't for dates before 1572 at least) it would be Tuesday September 1st (I think - I'm doing this in my head).

[greenilex]

A Spring beginning to the year makes sense, as does a knees-up just before all the real work (of growing food) kicks off.

[Alain Maréchal]

If a spring fiscal year end is necessary, whether for historical, sociological or workload reasons (I'm trying, without success, to shed a tear for those hard-pressed people who work in the financial sector), and while pointing out in passing that plenty of other countries manage a year-end year end, that doesn't explain why the U.K., can't make that small adjustment of 5 days from April 5 to March 31.

[vinteuil]

... that doesn't explain why the U.K., can't make that small adjustment of 5 days from April 5 to March 31.

... yes, it is weird. The financial years of government departments run from 1 April to 31 March ; the tax years as you say from 6 April to 5 April. There must be a whole sub-department in the Treasury devoted to finagling those odd five days from year to year...

[greenilex]

Meanwhile, if you are planning a jump into the Isis, remember not to get out of your depth and go carefully out there...

[Pabmusic]

Meanwhile, if you are planning a jump into the Isis, remember not to get out of your depth and go carefully out there...

Ah! Someone who understands the full significance of May 1st.

[vinteuil]

Meanwhile, if you are planning a jump into the Isis, remember not to get out of your depth and go carefully out there...

Ah! Someone who understands the full significance of May 1st.

... except that if you jump from Magdalen Bridge it is into the Cherwell rather than the Isis

.

[Pabmusic]

... except that if you jump from Magdalen Bridge it is into the Cherwell rather than the Isis

.

[greenilex]

I realised that when I listened to Radio Oxford.

The bells seemed fainter than last year. What was being rung, does anyone know? Do we have a campanological expert?

[clive heath]

....and here is another song with a "First of May" theme

Mayfair