The term “midnight” refers to 12 o’clock at night or the transition time from one day to the next. But why is this late night hour called “midnight” instead of something else? The origins of the name offer some interesting linguistic and historical insights.
The Etymology of “Midnight”
“Midnight” is a compound word derived from “mid” meaning middle and “night” meaning the period between sunset and sunrise. Taken together, “midnight” literally translates to “middle of the night” in English.
This follows the etymological conventions of early Germanic languages. The Old English term “midniht” combines “mid” (middle) and “niht” (night). In Old Norse it was “miðnætti” from “mið” (mid) and “nátt” (night). The roots of midnight extend back to Proto-Germanic “midnahts” before evolving into our modern word.
The Concept of Midnight in History
Midnight marks the middle or midpoint of the night in a 12-hour clock. This period held both cultural and practical significance to many ancient civilizations.
In mythology and religion, midnight was seen as a liminal time between days, when magical or supernatural events could take place. The “witching hour” connoted midnight as an ominous time for magical rituals and communication with spirits. Ancient legends and folklore often center around midnight as a symbolic transition period.
Midnight also oriented people to the passage of time before modern clocks. Observing the middle point between sunset and sunrise helped communities approximately tell the hour. Societies structured their days and nights around the midnight hour. Certain tasks had to be finished or began by the time “midnight” arrived based on the moon or stars.
The Development of Mechanical Clocks
The earliest known mechanical clocks originated in Europe during the 13th century. These devices utilized gears and weights to drive hands that marked the passage of hours. However, early clock towers and sundials were not always precisely set to midnight as we know it today.
Back then, civic clock towers would often ring out at sunset to signal the start of nighttime prohibitions. The public curfew beginning at this “midnight” varied between 10 pm to 2 am depending on the season and location. Other towns rang bells at whatever time the clock keeper determined. Calibration was inconsistent prior to modern timekeeping.
Standardization of Time Zones
It was not until the 19th and 20th centuries that midnight became standardized to 12 am within time zones:
- 1847 – Railroads instituted standardized time zones in Britain.
- 1870 – Charles Dowd proposed global time zones.
- 1883 – International Meridian Conference adopted 24 global time zones meeting at Greenwich, England.
- 1918 – United States Congress established standardized time zones.
Now midnight universally refers to 12 am coordinated across locations rather than being subjectively set by local clocks.
The Advance of Digital Clocks and Watches
Today’s prevalence of digital clocks, smartphones, and watches reinforce midnight as precisely starting at 12 am. Displays immediately switch from 11:59 pm to 12:00 am to visually indicate the new day.
The digital revolution also popularized the 24-hour clock known as military time. This avoids any ambiguity between noon and midnight by designating 00:00 for the start of the day.
Cultural Significance of Midnight
Despite its technical definition, midnight continues to carry cultural symbolism and rituals.
New Year’s Eve
The most famous cultural midnight tradition is celebrating the arrival of a new year. Crowds gather on New Year’s Eve awaiting the descent of the lighted ball in Times Square at the stroke of midnight. The new year is commemorated with kissing, fireworks, and toasting at the first moment of January 1st.
Fantasy and Fiction
Midnight remains intriguing as a plot device in novels, fairy tales, and horror stories. Magical or ominous events transpire at the stroke of midnight such as Cinderella’s carriage transforming back into a pumpkin.
Supernatural Associations
Midnight is still tied to the supernatural in myth and urban legends. The witching hour connotes midnight as an active time for witches, demons, and spirits.
Insomniacs and Night Owls
Those awake at midnight feel a sense of solidarity like being in an exclusive club. Night owls and insomniacs note the particular serenity of working, reading, or reflecting at midnight without the pressures of daytime.
Why Midnight and Not Another Term?
The exclusivity of midnight arises because it marks a definitive transition point between two days. Alternative names could not capture this pivotal moment:
Start of Night
Calling midnight the “start of night” is misleading. The nightly phase begins at dusk around 6 pm. Midnight is the middle.
High Night
“High night” is awkward and lacks linguistic precedent in English or other languages. It suggests the peak rather than midpoint of night.
Night Middle
Though grammatically correct, “night middle” is clunky and has no historical basis. It also undermines midnight’s exclusive status.
24 o’Clock
“24 o’clock” works for the 24-hour clock but lacks cultural mystique. There’s no poetry or allure to “24 o’clock” like the striking of midnight.
Is Midnight AM or PM?
Midnight can be confusing in terms of its AM or PM designation. Midnight is the start of a new day, so it is technically after noon.
However, some designate midnight as 12 AM to mentally associate morning hours with the new day. Others consider midnight as 12 PM to highlight its alignment with the end of the previous day.
To avoid ambiguity, the 24-hour clock labels midnight as 00:00. But the debate continues on midnight’s AM or PM status depending on personal logic.
Midnight by Time Zone
Midnight occurs at different absolute times around the globe based on time zones. While the Earth rotates, midnight sweeps westward as locations sequentially cross the antemeridian line between calendar days.
Midnight happens earliest in the UTC +14 zone encompassing Kiribati’s Line Islands. It occurs last in the UTC-12 zone containing Baker Island, United States. But midnight remains synchronized at the 12 am hour within each zone.
| Time Zone | Location | Midnight Time |
|---|---|---|
| UTC +14 | Line Islands (Kiribati) | 1300 GMT |
| UTC +12 | New Zealand | 1100 GMT |
| UTC +0 | United Kingdom | 0000 GMT |
| UTC -5 | United States East Coast | 0500 GMT |
| UTC -12 | Baker Island (United States) | 1200 GMT |
Myths and Misconceptions
Some common midnight myths and misconceptions include:
Midnight is the Witching Hour
Folklore designated midnight as a prime time for witchcraft. But the supernatural association is purely mythical.
Midnight is 12 pm
Midnight can seem like 12 pm since it starts a new day. But midnight is the middle of night, so 12 am is correct.
Old Bells Rang at Midnight
Before modern timekeeping, civic bell towers rang at inconsistent evening hours rather than precisely at midnight.
Midnight is an Ominous Hour
While portrayed as spooky in fiction, midnight is simply the halfway point of night in reality.
Midnight is the Same Time Everywhere
Midnight occurs at different absolute times around the world based on time zones and the Earth’s rotation.
Midnight Sayings and Expressions
Some notable idioms highlight midnight’s mystique:
- Burning the midnight oil – Staying up past midnight working
- Midnight clear – Cold, silent night at midnight
- Midnight madness – Crazy late night behavior
- Midnight munchies – Snacking past midnight
- Midnight sun – The summer phenomenon at far northern/southern latitudes where the sun remains visible at midnight
Notable Events at Midnight
Midnight remains associated with pivotal occasions:
- 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in Confederate territory at midnight.
- 1929 – Times Square New Year’s Eve ball drop began.
- 2000 – Y2K bug feared to crash computers at stroke of midnight 2000.
- 2011 – Same-sex marriage law took effect at midnight in New York.
- 2020 – United Kingdom left European Union as Brexit took effect at 11 pm midnight Brussels time.
Famous Titles with Midnight
Midnight has featured famously in literature and music:
- Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie novel
- Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen film
- Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – John Berendt novel
- “Midnight Train to Georgia” – Gladys Knight song
- “Midnight Rider” – Allman Brothers song
Scientific Midnight Phenomena
Some natural wonders uniquely occur at midnight:
- Midnight sun – The summer phenomenon at far northern/southern latitudes where the sun remains visible at midnight due to earth’s axial tilt.
- Lunar midnight – When eclipses and other lunar events coincide with the moon’s meridian crossing (midnight point) rather than hourly position.
- Geomagnetic midnight – The point at which a geomagnetic observatory registers the quietest magnetic field activity used to establish baselines.
Conclusion
While technically defined as 12 am, midnight retains a mystical allure in human culture. The time inherited rich traditions from ancient civilizations for whom midnight oriented their days. In literature and pop culture, it continues to signify a pivotal moment filled with magic, mystery, and possibility. The eeriness of “witching hour” myths still colors our view of midnight today. At the core, midnight derives its appeal from the pivotal transition between two days – a crossroads irresistible to explore in stories, songs, and celebrations.