diff --git a/src/gen/db/dbdir.py b/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
index 832eed19d..e02df6e1f 100644
--- a/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
+++ b/src/gen/db/dbdir.py
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ class GrampsDBDir(GrampsDbBase, UpdateCallback):
 
         if callback:
             callback(25)
-        self.metadata  = self.__open_table(self.full_name, META)
+        self.metadata = self.__open_table(self.full_name, META)
 
         # If we cannot work with this DB version,
         # it makes no sense to go further
@@ -1712,11 +1712,32 @@ class GrampsDBDir(GrampsDbBase, UpdateCallback):
             the_txn.commit()
             self.update()
 
+        # modifies dates: adds an integer for newyear code.
+        length = len(self.event_map)
+        self.set_total(length)
+        for handle in self.event_map.keys():
+            event = self.event_map[handle]
+            (junk_handle, gramps_id, the_type, date, description, place, 
+             source_list, note_list, media_list, attribute_list,
+             change, marker, private) = event
+            if date != None:
+                (calendar, modifier, quality, dateval, text, sortval) = date
+                newyear = 0
+                new_date = (calendar, modifier, quality, dateval,text,sortval, 
+                            newyear)
+                new_event = (junk_handle, gramps_id, the_type, new_date,
+                             description, place, source_list, note_list, 
+                             media_list, attribute_list, change,marker,private)
+                the_txn = self.env.txn_begin()
+                self.event_map.put(str(handle), new_event, txn=the_txn)
+                the_txn.commit()
+                self.update()
+
         # Bump up database version. Separate transaction to save metadata.
         the_txn = self.env.txn_begin()
         self.metadata.put('version', 14, txn=the_txn)
         the_txn.commit()
-        
+
     def write_version(self, name):
         """Write version number for a newly created DB."""
         full_name = os.path.abspath(name)
@@ -1753,7 +1774,6 @@ class GrampsDBDir(GrampsDbBase, UpdateCallback):
         self.metadata.close()
         self.env.close()
         
-
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #
 # BdbTransaction
diff --git a/src/gen/lib/date.py b/src/gen/lib/date.py
index 53d6db178..38c170227 100644
--- a/src/gen/lib/date.py
+++ b/src/gen/lib/date.py
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class Date:
     
     Supports partial dates, compound dates and alternate calendars.
     """
-    MOD_NONE       = 0
+    MOD_NONE       = 0  # CODE
     MOD_BEFORE     = 1
     MOD_AFTER      = 2
     MOD_ABOUT      = 3
@@ -88,17 +88,23 @@ class Date:
     MOD_SPAN       = 5
     MOD_TEXTONLY   = 6
 
-    QUAL_NONE       = 0
-    QUAL_ESTIMATED  = 1
-    QUAL_CALCULATED = 2
+    QUAL_NONE        = 0 # BITWISE
+    QUAL_ESTIMATED   = 1
+    QUAL_CALCULATED  = 2
+    QUAL_INTERPRETED = 4
 
-    CAL_GREGORIAN  = 0
+    CAL_GREGORIAN  = 0 # CODE
     CAL_JULIAN     = 1
     CAL_HEBREW     = 2
     CAL_FRENCH     = 3
     CAL_PERSIAN    = 4
     CAL_ISLAMIC    = 5
 
+    NEWYEAR_JAN1   = 0 # CODE
+    NEWYEAR_MAR1   = 1
+    NEWYEAR_MAR25  = 2
+    NEWYEAR_SEP1   = 3
+
     EMPTY = (0, 0, 0, False)
 
     _POS_DAY  = 0
@@ -181,6 +187,7 @@ class Date:
             self.dateval  = Date.EMPTY
             self.text     = u""
             self.sortval  = 0
+            self.newyear = 0
             self.set_yr_mon_day(*source)
         elif type(source) == str:
             if (calendar != None or 
@@ -196,6 +203,7 @@ class Date:
             self.dateval  = source.dateval
             self.text     = source.text
             self.sortval  = source.sortval
+            self.newyear  = source.newyear
         elif source:
             self.calendar = source.calendar
             self.modifier = source.modifier
@@ -203,6 +211,7 @@ class Date:
             self.dateval  = source.dateval
             self.text     = source.text
             self.sortval  = source.sortval
+            self.newyear  = source.newyear
         else:
             self.calendar = Date.CAL_GREGORIAN
             self.modifier = Date.MOD_NONE
@@ -210,6 +219,7 @@ class Date:
             self.dateval  = Date.EMPTY
             self.text     = u""
             self.sortval  = 0
+            self.newyear  = Date.NEWYEAR_JAN1
 
     def serialize(self, no_text_date=False):
         """
@@ -221,14 +231,14 @@ class Date:
             text = self.text
         
         return (self.calendar, self.modifier, self.quality, 
-                self.dateval, text, self.sortval)
+                self.dateval, text, self.sortval, self.newyear)
 
     def unserialize(self, data):
         """
         Load from the format created by serialize.
         """
         (self.calendar, self.modifier, self.quality, 
-         self.dateval, self.text, self.sortval) = data
+         self.dateval, self.text, self.sortval, self.newyear) = data
         return self
 
     def copy(self, source):
@@ -242,6 +252,7 @@ class Date:
         self.dateval  = source.dateval
         self.text     = source.text
         self.sortval  = source.sortval
+        self.newyear  = source.newyear
 
     def __cmp__(self, other):
         """