History
History of the Months of the Year

The word calendar comes from the Latin kalendarium, which means "book of accounts." This term referred to the book where moneylenders recorded the names of their debtors and the amounts they owed. The interest on the loans was paid on the Kalendae (the first day of each month), and from this, the term kalendarium came to refer to the system that organizes the days of the year.

The word month comes from the Latin mensis, which derives from the verb mensurare, meaning "to measure." This reflects the ancient practice of measuring time in lunar cycles.

Origin of the Month Names

Original months:

  1. March: Originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar, it was named in honor of Mars, the god of war.
  2. April: Its name comes from the Latin aperire, which means "to open," symbolizing the rebirth of spring.
  3. May: Named after Maia, the goddess of spring and growth.
  4. June: Named after Juno, the wife of Jupiter and goddess of marriage and protection.

The following months had numerical names based on their position in the Roman calendar:
5. Quinctilis (fifth month): Later renamed July in honor of Julius Caesar.
6. Sextilis (sixth month): Eventually changed to August in honor of Emperor Augustus.
7. September (seventh month): Derived from septem, meaning "seven" in Latin.
8. October (eighth month): Comes from octo, meaning "eight."
9. November (ninth month): Derived from novem, meaning "nine."
10. December (tenth month): Comes from decem, meaning "ten."

Later added months:

  1. January: Added later and named in honor of Janus, the god of doors and beginnings, symbolizing the start of the year.
  2. February: Also added later, named after Februa, a Roman festival dedicated to purification and spiritual renewal.

Historical Transformations

The Roman calendar was modified by Julius Caesar, who introduced the Julian calendar in 45 B.C., adjusting the length of the months and ensuring more accurate alignment with the solar cycle. This naming and organization system later evolved into the Gregorian calendar, which is the one we use today.

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