How months of the year got their names

Named after Pope Gregory XIII and introduced in 1582, the Gregorian calendar has been in use for as long as we know. We are very well-acquainted with the months and days in the calendar and the sun signs associated with each month. But how did these months get their names?

Well, here’s how:

January

The first month in the calendar, January is aptly named after the Roman god Janus, who had power over doors and beginnings.

February

February got its name from Latin februarius, from februa, which was a purification festival celebrated during this month.

March

March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. Mars was also believed to be the custodian of agriculture. The month was considered unsuitable for wars and battles.

April

April is derived from Latin Aprillis, the fourth month of the ancient Roman calendar.

May

May is associated with the Greek goddess Maia who was the daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes. She was believed to be an earth goddess.

June

June is named after the ancient Roman goddess Juno, wife of Jupiter and goddess of marriage and childbirth. June was also sometimes referred to as the middle of the summer month.

July

July is the first month in the calendar named after a human being.  July was named after Julius Caesar, July being the month of his birth. Prior to that, it was known as Quintilis, which means fifth.

August

Derived from Latin augustus meaning ‘consecrated, venerable’, in 8 BC, Sextilis (‘sixth’) was renamed after Augustus, the first Roman emperor, who had died six years earlier. August, the English word means ‘respected and impressive’.



September

September which comes from the Latin septem, ‘seven’, was initially the seventh month in the ancient Roman calendar which used to have only ten months.

October

Following September, October came from ‘octo’ which is Latin for ‘eight’.

November

Following the pattern, November comes from Latin novem, meaning nine. November is also associated with gloominess in the northern hemisphere.

December

Finally, the last month of the year, December comes from Latin decem, meaning ‘ten’.