The calendar that we follow today was not the same earlier and what we see today is the result of developed changes including the 12 months . The name of the 12 months in a year symbolizes a mix of gods and goddesses, rulers, and numbers.
According to reports initially the ancient Roman calendar was a 10 month calendar that covered the period we today think of as March – December. And during the winter period between the end of December and the beginning of the following March, the government wasn’t too active, so they didn’t bother to assign and define months for that period. But eventually, it was decided by the Romans to fill out the rest of the year by including two more months .
The name of the months with its origin –
JANUARY
The 1st month January was named after the Roman god Janus, protector of gates and doorways. Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking into the past, the other into the future. Its is believed that in ancient Roman times, the gates of the temple of Janus were open during war and closed in times of peace.
FEBRUARY
February comes from the Latin word februa,which means “to cleanse.” The Roman calendar month of Februarius was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement which took place during this period.
MARCH
March was named for the Roman god of war, Mars. This period in the year was the time to resume military campaigns which was interrupted by winter. The 3rd month March was also a time of several festivals, presumably in preparation for the campaigning season.
APRIL
April comes from the Latin word aperio, “to open (bud),” because plants starts to grow in this month. This month is alos viewed as spring’s renewal.
MAY
Following the name of the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants the May month was named . Besides it is also said to be coming from a Latin word maiores, “elders,” who were celebrated during this month. Maia was perceived as a nurturer and an earth goddess.
JUNE
It comes from the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women. Also from the Latin word juvenis, which means “young people.”
JULY
This month was named to honor Roman dictator Julius Caesar (100 B.C.– 44 B.C.) after his death. Julius Caesar made one of his greatest contributions to history in 46 B.C: With the help of Sosigenes, he developed the Julian calendar, the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today.
AUGUST
August was named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.– A.D. 14). Augustus (the first Roman emperor) comes from the Latin word “augustus,” which means venerable, noble, and majestic.
SEPTEMBER
The name September comes from the Latin word septem, which means “seven,” because it was the seventh month of the early Roman calendar.
OCTOBER
October was the name of the eighth month of the year in the ancient Roman calendar. The name comes from octo, the Latin word for “eight.” Initially it is said that the Romans converted to a 12-month calendar, they tried to rename this month after various Roman emperors, but at the end the name October was chosen!
NOVEMBER
November comes from the Latin word novem, meaning “nine,” because this was the ninth month of the early Roman calendar.
DECEMBER
The Word December comes from the Latin word decem, meaning “ten,” because this had been the tenth month of the early Roman calendar.
So such goes the story behind the naming of the 12 months of an English Calendar.
