GN 00307: Foreign Evidence
TN 31 (08-05)
A. Background
Although most countries in Western Europe adopted the Gregorian calendar by the end of the 18th century, Eastern Europe did not convert from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar until early in the 20th century.
B. Policy
SSA assumes the Julian calendar was used and converts the date to the Gregorian calendar date if a document (other than a Roman Catholic record) was issued or recorded in Eastern Europe at the time the Julian calendar was used (see GN 00307.180D.).
SSA does not assume all documents or records made after the dates in GN 00307.180D. used the Gregorian calendar since some registrars continued to use the old calendar.
SSA assumes records issued in countries not listed in GN 00307.180D. show Gregorian dates.
C. Procedure
Convert a Julian calendar date to the Gregorian calendar date by adding:
12 days to dates prior to March 1, 1900; and
13 days to dates after February 28, 1900.
D. Exhibit
This chart gives information on the dates the countries listed converted to the Gregorian calendar and the calendar by which dates are shown on subsequent certifications.
| Country | Date Gregorian Calendar Adopted |
Calendar by Which Dates Shown on Current Certifications | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 11/28/1912 | Not available | |
| Bulgaria | 04/14/1916 | As initially recorded | |
| Estonia | 02/14/1918 | Gregorian | |
| Greece | 03/01/1923* | As initially recorded | *The Greek Government adopted the Gregorian calendar for civil records on 03/01/1923. The Church of Greece (the Greek Orthodox Church) adopted the amended Julian calendar (the dates correspond to the Gregorian calendar) on 03/24/1924, for church records. |
| Latvia | 02/14/1918 | Gregorian | |
| Lithuania | After 04/1915 | Gregorian | |
| Romania | 04/15/1919* | As initially recorded (Some certifications issued before 1950 may show both calendar dates.) | Areas which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire used the Gregorian calendar prior to 1919. *The Romanian Church officially adopted the Gregorian calendar on 10/ 01/24. |
| Russia | 02/14/1918 | Gregorian | Although the Russian authorities officially changed calendars in 1918, individual registrars particularly in remote areas continued to use the old calendar for as long as 10 years. |
| Turkey | 01/01/26 | As initially recorded | See remarks under Rumi calendar in GN 00307.899 |
| Yugoslavia Bosnia Croatia Dalmatia Herzegovina Slavonia Slovenia Voyvodina |
12/01/1918 | Civil records- Gregorian; Religious records-both calendars | Areas which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire used the Gregorian calendar prior to 1919. |
| Macedonia Montenegro Serbia |
01/15/1919 | This refers to Yugoslav Macedonia, not the Macedonian areas of Greece or Bulgaria. |