How Months Got Their Names
by January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December – Are those words too familiar to all of us? We use them to count time everyday, but have you ever once asked yourself from where the name came. Let me take you back to the ancient time to find out what and how our 12 months were named after.
January :
The word was originated from the name Janus, the god of doors and gates, of the beginning and the ending in the Roman mythology. He has two faces which symbolizes the change and transition such as the progression of past to future, of one condition to another, of one era to a new one. Is this also the reason why his name was used to call the first month of a new year?
February :
According to the Roman mythology, there was a god of the death and purification named Februus. In his honor, the Februalia festivity was held, which was a time when sacrifices are made to atone for sins. February is said to be named after this festivity.
March :
In the Roman time, March is the first out of ten months of a year. It was named after the god of war, Mars. March is named like this because of its hot and rough weather, yeah, just like war !
April :
The word April comes from “aperire”- a Latin word which means “to open”. It seems like the Roman people find out that April is the time when all the buds open their eyes to enjoy the warmest sunshine from the sun. However, somebody believe that April was originated from Aphrilis, which in turns come from Aphrodite, the Goddess of Beauty in Greece, whose name is Venus in Roman mythology. Since Venus loves Mars, is it reasonable for a girl to come right after her lover?
May :
This month was named after Maia, the goddess of growth of plants. Does the name say it all?
June :
Named from “junius” – the Latin word for the goddess Juno. Juno is the wife of Jupiter and also the Goddess of Marriage. The month was named like that because the Roman people believe that June was the luckiest time for loving couples to get married.
July :
Firstly, July was called Quintilis, which means the fifth month ( cuz in Roman Time, March is the first month of a year). After that, in the year 44 B.C, July took its name after the founder of the Roman Empire- Julius Caesar, whose birthday was on the twelfth of that month. I have no idea whether it was named after his death or it was Julius Caesar who wanted to become immortal that changed the name of the month himself.
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