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| History Of Months |
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| The original Roman had 10 named months Martius "March",Aprilis "April",Maius"May,Junius "June", Quintilis "July",Sextilis "August",September "September",October "October",November "November", December"December",and probably two unnamed months in the dead of winter when not much happened in agriculture.The year bagan with Martius "March".Numa Pompilius the second king of Rome circa 700 BC,added the two months Januarius "January",Februarius "February".He also moved the beginning of the year from the month Marius to Januarius and changed the number of days in to several months to be odd,a lucky number.After Februarius there was occasionally an additional month of Intercalaris"Intercalander". This is the origin of the leap-year day begin in February.In 46 BC,Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calender(hence the Julian calender) changing the number of days in many months and removing Intercalaris. |
| January -- Janus's month Middle English Januarie Latin Januarius "of Jenus" Latin Janu(s) "Janus" + -arius "ary (pertaining to)" Latin Januarius mensis " month of Janus" Janus is a Roman God of gates and doorways,dipicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. His festival month is January. Januarius has 29 days until Julius when it became 31 days long. |
| February -- month of Februa Middle English Februarius Latin Februarius "of Februa" Latin Febura(s) "Febura" + -arius "ary (pertaining to)" Latin Februarius mensis " month of Janus" Latin dies Feburatus "day of purification" Februaris had 28 days,until Julius when it had 29 days on every fourth year and 28 days otherwise. Februa is the Roman festival of purification,held on February fifteenth. It is possible Sabine origin. |
| Intercalaris -- inter-calander month Latin Intercalaris "inter-calander" Latin Mercidonious (popular name) "?" Intercalaris had 27 days,until the month was abolished byJulius. |
| March -- mars' month Middle English March(e) Anglo-French March(e) Old English Martius Latin Martius "of Mars" Latin Marti(s) "Mars" + -us (adj. suffix) Latin Martius mensis " month of Mars" Martius has always had 31days. March was the original beginning of the year,and the time for the reasumption of war. Mars is the Roman God of war. He is identified with the Greek god Ares. |
| April -- Aphrodite's month Old English April(is) Latin Aprilis Etruscan Apru Greek Aphro,short for Aphrodite Aprilis had 30 days,until Numa when it had 29 days,until Julius when it became 31 days long. Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love and beauty. She is identified with the Roman goddess Venus. |
| May -- maia's month Old French Mai Old English Maius Latin Maius "of Maia" Latin Maius mensis " month of Maia" Maius has always had 31days. Maia (meaning "the great one") is the Italic goddess of spring,the daughter of Faunus,and wife of Vulean. |
| June -- Juno's month Middle English Jun(e) Anglo-French Juin Old English Junius Latin Junius "of Juno" Latin Junius mensis " month of Juno" Junius has 30 days,until Numa when it had 29 days,until Julius when it became 30 days long. Juno is the principle goddess of Roman Pantheon. She is the goddess of marriage and the well-being of women. She is the wife and sister of Jupiter . She is identified with the Greek goddess Hera. |
| July -- Julius Caesar's month Middle English Julie Latin Julius "Julius" Latin Julius mensis " month of Julius" Latin Quintilis mensis "fifth month" Quintilis(later Julius) has always had 31 days. Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calander(hence the Julian calander) in 46 BC. In the process he renamed this month after himself. |
| August -- Augustus Caesar's month Latin Augustus "Augustus" Latin Augustus mensis " month of Augustus" Latin Sextilis mensis "sixth month" Sextilis had 30 days,until Numa when it had 29days,until Julius when it became 31 days long. Augustus Caesar clarified and completed the calendar reform of Julius Caesar.In the process,he has also renamed this month after himself. |
| September -- the seventh month Middle English Septembre Latin September Latin Septem "seven" -ber(adj. suffix) Latin september mensis " seventh month" September had 30 days,until Numa when it had 29days,until Julius when it became 30 days long. |
| October -- the eighth month Middle English Octobre Latin October Latin octo"eight" -ber(adj. suffix) Latin october mensis " eigth month" October has always had 31 days. |
| November -- the ninth month Middle English Novembre Latin November Latin novembris mensis "ninth month" Novembris had 30 days,until Numa when it had 29days,until Julius when it became 30 days long. |
| December -- the tenth month Middle English Decembre Old French Decembre Latin December "tenth month" Latin Decem "ten"+ -ber(adj. suffix) December had 30 days,until Numa when it had 29days,until Julius when it became 31 days long. |
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