The Mishna (Rosh Hashana 2,3) tells us that first they used to kindle flares. They used to take long cedar-wood sticks and rushes and flax-tow. A man bound these up with a rope and went up to the top of the
 hill and set light to them. He waved them up and
down until he could see his fellow doing
the same on the top of the next hill. And so, too, on the
            top of the third hill.

          The Cutheans who lived on Mount
          Shomron, north of Jerusalem,
          interfered with the flare-kindling
          system by kindling
          flares before the Sanhedrin had
         consecrated the new moon. The system of messengers
          was therefore instituted. They went out every month to
         advise the Jews in the provinces of the day of the new
          moon. (Mishna Rosh Hashana 2,2)

          Hillel II, who lived approximately 1600 years ago, and his
          Bet Din (Tribunal) established the definite Hebrew
          calendar, fixing the 29-day and 30-day months. They
          consecrated in advance all the  new moons, from their day until
          the time of the Messiah. Although  we know by the calendar the day
          of the new moon, we announce it  on the  
          Shabbat before  Rosh Chodesh in the synagogue.

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