Decoding the Origins: How the Months Acquired Their Unique Names
Introduction
Humans track time using months, but few understand the origin of month names and how these names evolved across history. The split of the year into twelve months is one such measure. Have you ever wondered what the names of the months are for? We uncover the fascinating origins of the names of the months by delving into history and etymology, tracing their roots to ancient civilizations and their cultural impacts. Discover the mysteries of how the months came to have their individual names as we embark on this fascinating adventure.
Just as we define what we call beautiful, we also define what we call time, see how we attract to beauty?
January:
Janus, the Roman deity of beginnings and changes, is the source of the month’s name, which serves as the starting point of our trip. Artists portrayed Janus with two faces, one looking back at the previous year and the other looking forward. It seems appropriate that January, the first month of the year, celebrates Janus, who stands for fresh starts and resolutions.
February:
People know February as the ‘Month of Purification,’ and Romans named it after the cleansing ritual called ‘Februa.’ The Latin word “februum,” which signifies purification, is the root of the English word “February.” Romans devoted this month to purging and cleansing to ensure fertility and mark a new beginning.
March:
The Roman god of war Mars is the source of the word March. In ancient Rome, people began the military campaign season in this month and performed celebrations in Mars’s honour. Although the association with war and struggle has gradually diminished over time, the name has survived as a reminder of this long-gone connection.
April:
We don’t know the exact origin of April, but most scholars believe it derives from the Latin word ‘aperire,’ meaning ‘to open.’ This alludes to the springtime flowering and bud opening, which denote new life and expansion. April provides as a reminder of the seasonal cycle of regeneration as nature emerges from its winter hibernation.
May:
The month of May gets its name from the Greek goddess Maia, who represents rebirth, growth, and fertility. With its longer and warmer days, this month offered the perfect environment for farming and the observance of spring celebrations. May continues to represent the spirit of fertility and abundance, making it a well-liked month for weddings and other happy events.
June
June pays homage to Juno, the Roman goddess of pregnancy and marriage. People associated June with weddings because they believed this month was favourable for nuptials. June continues to be a popular month for weddings in many cultures around the world, therefore the association with marriage is still strong today.
July:
The fifth month of the year was called “July” by the Roman Senate in 45 BCE in honour of the Roman general and statesman Julius Caesar. The Roman Senate honoured Caesar’s military triumphs and his calendar reforms through this alteration. The month of July continues to serve as evidence of the historical characters’ continuing influence on our calendar.
August:
The sixth month was renamed “August” by the Roman Senate in honour of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, following the precedent set by July. Augustus greatly aided the Roman Empire’s expansion and consolidation. This modification preserved the proportion between July and August, guaranteeing that the months honouring these significant persons were of similar length.
The names of the months of September, October, November, and December are derived from their respective ten-month positions in the ancient Roman calendar. However, later calendar changes have caused the names to diverge from their original positions.
September:
“September” is a contraction of the Latin word “septem,” which means “seven.” The seventh month of the old Roman calendar was September. However, the addition of January and February by the Roman King Numa Pompilius in 713 BCE moved September to the ninth spot. Like September, the Romans moved October when they added January and February.
October:
The English term “October” comes from the Latin word “octo,” which means “eight.” Like September, the Romans moved October when they added January and February. As a result, the Romans placed October as the tenth month in the new calendar. It kept its old designation even if its name and numerical position were no longer the same.
November:
“November” is a contraction of the Latin word “novem,” which means “nine.” In the old Roman calendar, which only had ten months, it was in this position. When Romans added January and February, they moved November to the eleventh position, but they kept its name.
December:
The Latin word ‘decem,’ meaning ‘ten,’ gives December its name. The addition of January and February to the calendar required adjustments for all the other months, including December. In the updated calendar, it changed from being the tenth to the twelveth month, but kept its original name.
The era when Rome was ruled by kings is when the Roman calendar first appeared. This ancient calendar included ten months, the first being March, the start of the agricultural year. There were about 304 days total, including a few days off in the winter.
For additional clarity on month structure in today’s calendar, see this month overview by Time and Date.
Julius Caesar implemented the Julian calendar in 45 BCE to better match the solar year. It changed the number of days in a year from 360 to 365 and added a leap day once every four years. The titles of the previous months were no longer in line with their numerical places because the Julian calendar began on January 1st.
Just as societies adjust their calendars, governments sometimes adjust economic systems, see how printing unlimited money impacts crises.
In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII developed the Gregorian calendar to correct a minor leap-year error in the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar is still extensively used today and hasn’t altered much since it was first introduced.
Our Social Accounts
Very well written son