Technically speaking, Jim Reilly is correct. The new millennium doesn't start until January 1, 2001. Practically speaking, however, it starts on January 1, 2000 (FOR SOME PEOPLE.)

In the Christian world, Jan 1 will usher in the year A.D. 2000. That year commemorates the birth of Jesus 2,000 years ago. The dating system used throughout much of the Western world grew out of calander reforms instituted by Pope Gregory XII in 1582, so it's called the Gregorian calendar.

All faiths use solar or lunar calculations, and thus, have had to adjust their calendars over the years. For this reason, the time marked isn't necessarily reflected by the year. But every faith does begin to mark time based upon important events in its history.

For Muslims, January will be the year 1420, in the month of Ramadan; The time when the prophet Mohammed left Mecca and founded Islam in Medina.

For Jews, January 1 will be the 23rd day of Tevet in the year 5760. The Jewish
calander is dated from the time of the creation story described in the scriptures of Genesis.

Jewish spiritual leaders in A.D. 359 counted up the life spans recounted in the scriptures back to Adam and Eve. They decided that creation had occured some 4,120 years previously. They even determined that the day of creation was October 7.

The Baha'i faith, on the other hand, has a much younger calander. January 2000 is 155 BE. Baha'is started counting in A. D. 1844, when their religion was founded. They use a year of 19 months, the names of which are drawn from the 19 aspects of God invoked in a particular prayer.

For the Hindu, although the roots of this Philosophy (it is not a religion) dates back 9,000 or 10,000 years, will mark January 1 as the start of the year 2056. (don't know why)

The concept is simple. Do your best but realize that you will be reincarnated again and again until you are perfected. That's your Karma. It has no single founder or prophet and no single holy book.

I posted the above explainations for your interest only and not for any other reason. Whatever your belief, I wish you all good health and enough money to be able to purchases all of the remaining millennium chips to be issued between now and the year 2001. <g>