1. ALMANAC
CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Definition
3. Etymology
4. Types of Almanac
5. List of some Almanacs by country of publications
6. Criteria for Evaluation of Almanac
7. Uses of Almanacs
8. Conclusion
9. References
2. INTRODUCTION
An Almanac is an annual
publication that includes
information like weather
forecasts, farmer‟s planting
dates, tide tables and other
tabular data often arranged
accounting to the calendar.
Celestial figures and various
statistics are found in
Almanac.
Almanac was first made by
Abu Ishaq Ibrahim al-Zarqali.
3. DEFINITION
An Almanac, originally a calendar with notations of
astronomical or meteorology and other data.
ALA Glossary defines Almanac as, “1. An annual publication
containing a calendar, frequently accompanied by astrological
data and other information. 2. An annual yearbook of statistics
and other information sometimes in a particular field.”
4. ETYMOLOGY
The etymology of the word „Almanac‟ is unclear, but there are
several theories. One of them is :
The earliest documented use of the word in any language
is in Latin in 1267 by Roger Bacon, where it meant a set of tables
detailing movements of heavenly bodies including the moon.
5. TYPES OF ALMANAC
Almanac
Astronomical almanac
General almanac
Subject almanac
Astrological almanac
Printed almanac
Special purpose almanac
Farmer‟s almanac
6. LIST OF SOME ALMANACS
BY COUNTRY OF PUBLICATION
Brazil- Almanac Abril; Almanac Sadol
Canada- Canadian Almanac and Directory
India- Kalnirnay; Pambu Panchagam
France- Quid
Mexico- Almanaque de Espinosa
United Kingdom- Astronomical almanac; Whitaker‟s almanac
USA- Astronomical almanac; The Old farmer‟s almanac
7. CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF ALMANAC
Authority
Scope
Up datedness
Treatment
Arrangement
Format
Special features
8. USES OF ALMANAC
Predict lunar and planetary
phenomena
Predicting astronomical events
Supplying historic climate
information
To forecasting weather patterns
To making planting
recommendations for farmer‟s
Population figures for countries
all over the world etc.
9. CONCLUSION
The almanac, which initially was treated as calendars of the
months and days with special dates and anniversaries, forecast
of weather and astronomical calculation, is now a collection of
miscellaneous facts and statistics.
At last, we can say that, an almanac is a very important
reference tool which provides information about current
events, development, statistics, astronomical data and
miscellaneous information.
