Origins of Names of Months of the Year

MONTH DETAILS
JANUARY The first month of the year and has 31 days. Named after Janus the two-faced God of the Romans. It was the Wolf monath and Aefter Yule of the Saxons.
FEBRUARY The second month of the year and has 28 or 29 days (details in text).Named from the Latin februa, purification feast. In ordinary years it contains 28 days, but in leap years 29 days. When first introduced into the Roman calendar by Numa c 700 B.C. it was made the last month of the year, preceding January, but in 452 B.C. the position of the two months was changed, February following January.
MARCH Third Month of the year and has 31 days. It was originally the first month of the Roman Calendar. It is named after the Roman God, Mars, and was Hlyd (storm) monath of the Anglo-Saxons.
APRIL Fourth month of the year and has 30 days. Named from the Roman Aprilis derived from aperere. 'to open' - the period when buds begin to open.
MAY Fifth month of the year and has 31 days. It was originally the third in the Ancient Roman Calendar. It is supposedly named after Maia, the mother of Mercury to whom sacrifices were offered on the first day of this month. In England in former days, May Day was made an occaision of many festivities, including the crowning of the May Queen, dancing round the Maypole, etc.
JUNE Sixth month of the year and has 30 days. Its name derives from the Roman Goddess, Juno. It was the Sear (Dry) monath to the Anglo-Saxons.
JULY Seventh month of the year and has 31 days. It is named after Julius Caesar. It was the Mead monath (Mead month) of the Anglo-Saxons.
AUGUST Eighth month of the year and has 31 days. It is named after the Emperor Augustus, because it was his 'lucky' month.
SEPTEMBER Ninth month of the year and has 30 days. Originally the seventh in the Roman Calendar, hence the name, from Septimus (Seventh). The designation was several times changed by various Emperors, but none of the new names survived long.
OCTOBER Tenth month of the year and has 31 days. It was originally eighth in the Roman Calendar, hence the name from the Latin octomus or octamus (eighth). It was held sacred to Mars.
NOVEMBER Eleventh month of the year and has 30 days. Until Numa c 700 B.C. added January and February, it was ninth in the old Roman Calendar and is named from the Latin nonus (ninth).
DECEMBER Twelfth month of the year and has 31 days. The name is derived from the Latin decimus (tenth) as it was originally the tenth in the old Roman Calendar.

 

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