NEOMÉNIA (Νεομνησία). — From Greek νέος = new
and μήνη = moon. It is the new moon (Heb. hōdheš, translated in the Latin Bible as kalendae). The observation of the new moon is of calendar (v.) which among all peoples was originally determined moon (v.).
Among the ancient Hebrews, the beginning of the month was established not by astronomical calculations but by the appearance of the first lunar crescent, and was greeted with the sound of trumpets (Num. 10:10), during the celebration of particular sacrifices, more abundant than those of the Sabbath and equal to those for Passover and for the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), namely, two young bulls, one ram, seven year-old lambs, and one goat for sin (Num. 28:11-15; Flavius Josephus, Antiq. Ind., III, 10, 1). There was no abstention from work, but the day was experienced as a feast day (merriment, Hos. 2:13; banquets, I Sam. 20:5, 24; devotional gatherings, Is. 1:13). At first it lasted two days (I Sam. 20:27-34), the last day of the preceding month and the first day of the following month; Horace’s phrase tricesimo sabbata (Sat., I, 9, 60) refers precisely to the new moon. The feast of the n. always remained alive in Israel, even after the exile and after the cultural reform that placed the Sabbath above it in importance (Ezek. 46:1), also in order to avoid any reference to pagan practices in use among neighboring peoples. Ezekiel always receives the word of Jahweh on the occasion of the n. (Ezek. 26:1; 29:17; 31:1; 33:1).
The most solemn n. was and is that of the month of Tishri (the beginning of the civil year, rôš hōš-šēnōh), which was announced throughout the country by a fire lit on the summit of the Mount of Olives and by the sound of the horn (šōphōr), and was characterized by solemn Sabbath rest. In present-day Judaism, too, the new moon is a day both of expiation and of praise and is regarded as a feast day within the family. On the eighth day of the month, in places where the cultural tradition persists, the blessing of the moon is sung outdoors, with torches, while looking at it and making three jumps toward II.
The devotional significance of the n. is expressed by the prayer recited during the day, in which Jahweh is asked to grant for the new month blessing, joy, gladness, salvation, and consolation, forgiveness of sins and expiation of guilt; an end to all misfortunes, and the beginning and commencement of the redemption of souls, since he chose his people Israel from among all nations, to whom he established the statutes of the heads of the months.