Collection

In
traditional societies, printed material intended for the masses was essentially
of two types: religious, in the form of catechisms, and the almanac. The latter
was essentially a calendar that set out the year's days and holidays.
Etymologically, the word "almanac" is thought to be of Arabic origin,
being composed of the article "al" and the word "mana,"
which means "to count." The ending "manac" (calendar) is
derived from the term "manaquebu," which means to predict the future.
The first almanacs were prophetic in nature. In the mid-16th century, Rabelais
published a series of almanacs containing some rather comical predictions.

The
traditional people's almanac generally consists of several parts. The calendar
part and the practical part make up the two basic components of the almanac.
They are rounded out by a historical part that recounts the main events of the
year just passed and by an administrative part that serves as a civil and
religious register. Canadian editor Samuel Neilson provided the following
succinct account of what an almanac generally consisted of in the 18th century:

"The
matter which should form the contents of an Almanac has constantly varied in
all countries, and seems in a great measure arbitrary, however they all agree
that it ought chiefly to consist in a Calendar for the measure of time, which
being dependant on the motion of the heavenly bodies maskes an Almanac so much
of the Science of Astronomy as is necessary for the regulation of human
affairs.

But this
like most other institutions, from time to time has been thought susceptible of
improvement, and that additional advantage might arise to the public by
rendering its utility more extensive, which has since become the common object
of both the makers and purchasers.

Astronomy,
as far as it regards the measure of time, forming the ground work of an Almanac
objects relative to that science, in a more extended point of view, and pursued
thro' other motives, have very properly made a second and not the least
interesting part of an Almanac.

Another
portion has been very fitly appropriated to objects of general Utility, such as
short sketches of Political, moral or scientifical truths. Subjects of mere
amusement have also been introduced at times.

In most
countries Almanacs have served as a sort of civil register of the names of the
public functionaries of every denomination, appertaining to the communities
they are intended to circulate in.

And lastly,
objects of local concern, chiefly relative to the affairs of the country in
which it may be published."