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12 months of
the year
Mariam Hovhannisyan
7-1

The Month of January
– January is the first month of the year in our modern day Gregorian calendar, and its
predecessor the Julian calendar. It consists of 31 days and the first day of the month is
known as New Year’s Day. It is named after the Roman god, Janus.
Naming January - Janus’ Month
– January is named after the Roman god, Janus, the god of doors because this month is the
door to the year. The Roman god Janus represents all beginnings and possesses the ability
to see all things past and future.
History of January
– The month of January was added to the Roman calendar by Numa Pompilius around 700
BCE so that the calendar would equal a standard lunar year of 355 days. January became
the first month of the year around 450 BCE, although March was originally the first month
of the year in the old Roman calendar. January originally consisted of 30 days when it was
added to the 10-month Roman calendar. However, a day was added making it 31 days long
in 46 BCE by Julius Caesar.

The Month of February
– Naming February - Februum
– February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor,
the Julian Calendar, and is the only month that has less than 30 days. It was named after
the Latin word februum, which means purification because the month was a time for
purification.
– History of February
– The old Roman calendar considered winter a monthless period, thus it only consisted of
10 months. The month of February was added, along with January around 700 BCE by
Numa Pompilius so that the calendar would equal a standard lunar year of 355 days.
February became the second month of the year around 450 BCE, although it was
originally the last month of the year in the old Roman calendar. February was shortened
to either 23 or 24 days at certain intervals in the Roman calendar, in which a 27 day
intercalary month was inserted after February to realign the year with the seasons.
During the Julian calendar reform, the intercalary month was abolished and leap years
were added every fourth year thus February gained a 29th day in leap years.

The Month of March
– Naming March - Mars’ Month
– March is the third month of the year in both the Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. It was named after the Roman god of war, Mars.
– History of March
– March was originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar because of
its association with the first day of spring. The vernal or March equinox falls during
this month between the 19th and 21st. March also marked a time when war
would resume after the long winter months.
– January became the first month of the calendar year around 700 BCE. Although
January 1st is New Year’s Day, many cultures and religions still celebrate the
beginning of the New Year in March.

The Month of April
– April is the fourth month of the year, has 30 days, and is named after the Greek goddess
Aphrodite.
– Naming April - Aphrodite’s Month
– April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor,
the Julian calendar. Its name is derived from the latin word aperit, which means to open.
It is considered that April is the month of the growing season and when trees and flowers
begin to “open”. It is also believed that the month’s name is named after the Greek
goddess, Aphrodite (Aphros).
– History of April
– April was originally the second month of the year in the Roman calendar and consisted of
30 days. It became the fourth month consisting of only 29 days when January was
designated the first month of the year around 450 BCE. April became 30 days long again
when Julius Caesar reformed the calendar.

The Month of May
– May is the fifth month of the year, has 31 days, and is named after the Greek
godess Maia.
– Naming May - Maia’s Month
– May is the fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. It is named after the Greek
goddess, Maia who is also identified with the Roman goddess of fertility,
Bona Dea.
– History of May
– May was originally the third month of the year in the Roman calendar and
consisted of 31 days. It became the fifth month when the
months January and February were added to the calendar.

The Month of June
– Naming June - Juno’s Month
– June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor,
the Julian calendar. It is believed that the month is named after the Roman goddess
Juno, who is the wife of Jupiter and is also equivalent to the Greek goddess Hera.
Another belief is that the month’s name comes from the Latin work iuniores which
means “younger ones”.
– History of June
– June was originally the fourth month of the year in the Roman calendar and
consisted of 30 days. It became the fifth month with a length of 29 days when Numa
reformed the Roman calendar. During the Julian reform, June was given a length of
30 days again.

The Month of July
– Naming July - Julius Caesar’s Month
– July is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor,
the Julian calendar. The month of July was previously called Quintilis in Latin since it
was the fifth month in the ancient Roman calendar. The name of the month was
changed to July in honor of Julius Caesar during the Julian calendar reform.
– History of July
– July was originally Quintilis, the fifth month of the year in the Roman calendar and
always consisted of 31 days. It was changed around 450 BCE when January became
the first month of the year. It was later changed to honor Julius Caesar during the
Julian calendar reform in 44 BCE.

The Month of August
– Naming August - Augustus Caesar
– August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. The month of August was originally named Sextilis
in Latin since it was the sixth month in the ancient Roman calendar. The name of the
month was changed to August in honor of Augustus Caesar in 8 BCE.
– History of August
– August was originally Sextilis, the sixth month in the Roman calendar and consisted
of 31 days. It became the eighth month with a length of 29 days around 700 BCE
when January and February were added to the year. Julius Caesar added two days to
the month around 45 BCE. It was later renamed to honor Augustus Caesar in 8 BCE.

The Month of September
– Naming September
– September is the ninth month of the year in the modern day Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. The month kept its original name from the Roman
calendarin which septem means “seven” in Latin marking it as the seventh month.
– September was named during a time when the calendar year began with March, which is
why its name no longer corresponds with its placement in the Julian and Gregorian
calendars.
– History of September
– September was the seventh month that had a length of 30 days in the Roman calendar. It
became the ninth month with a length of 29 days when King Numa Pompilius reformed
the calendar and added the months of January and February around 700 BCE. Julius
Caesar added one day to the month making it 30 days long during the Julian
calendar reform.

The Month of October
– Naming October - The Eighth Month
– October is the tenth month of the year in the modern day Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. The month kept its original name from the Roman
calendar in which octo means “eight” in Latin marking it the eighth month of the year.
– October was named during a time when the calendar year began with March, which is
calendars.
– History of October
– October was originally the eighth month of the Roman calendar. It always had a length of
31 days and became the tenth month of the year when King Numa Pompilius reformed
the calendar and added the months of January and February around 700 BCE.

The Month of November
– Naming November
– November is the 11th month of the year in the modern day Gregorian calendar and its
predecessor, the Julian calendar. The month kept its original name from the
Latin novemmeaning “nine” which marked it the 9th month of the year in the Roman
calendar.
– November was named during a time when the calendar year began with March, which
is why its name no longer corresponds with its placement in the Julian and Gregorian
calendars.
– History of November
– November was originally the 9th month of the Roman calendar and consisted of 30
days. It became the 11th month of the year with a length of 29 days when King Numa
Pompilius reformed the calendar and added the months
of January and February around 700 BCE. During the Julian calendar reform, a day was
added to November making it 30 days long again.

The Month of December
– December Means Tenth
– December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the modern day Gregorian
calendar and its predecessor, the Julian calendar. The month kept its original name from
the Latin word decem meaning “ten” which marked it as the tenth month of the year in
the Roman calendar.
– December was named during a time when the calendar year began with March, which is
calendars.
– History of December
– December was originally the last month of the Roman calendar since the winter period
was not assigned months. It originally consisted of 30 days, but its length was shortened
to 29 days when King Numa Pompilius reformed the calendar and added the months
of January and February around 700 BCE. During the Julian calendar reform, two days
were added to December making it 31 days long.

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12 months of the year

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