A History of the Months and the Meanings of their Names
January -- Janus's month
February -- month of Februa
Intercalaris -- inter-calendar month
March -- Mars' month
April -- Aphrodite's month
May -- Maia's month
June -- Juno's month
July -- Julius Caesar's month
August -- Augustus Caesar's month
September -- the seventh month
October -- the eighth month
November -- the nineth month
December -- the tenth month
A History of the Months
The original Roman year had 10 named months Martius "March", Aprilis "April", Maius "May", Junius "June", Quintilis "July", Sextilis "August", September "September", October "October", November "November", December "December", and probably two unnamed months in the dead of winter when not much happened in agriculture. The year began with Martius "March". Numa Pompilius, the second king of Rome circa 700 BC, added the two months Januarius "January" and Februarius "February". He also moved the beginning of the year from Marius to Januarius and changed the number of days in several months to be odd, a lucky number. After Februarius there was occasionally an additional month of Intercalaris "intercalendar". This is the origin of the leap-year day being in February. In 46 BC, Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar (hence the Julian calendar) changing the number of days in many months and removing Intercalaris.
Julius CaesarJanuary -- Janus's month
Latin Januarius means "month of Janus".Janus is the Roman god of gates and doorways, depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. His festival month is January. Januarius had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 31 days long.
February -- month of Februa
Latin Februarius means "month of Februa". Latin februatus "day of purification". Februarius had 23 days,caeser changed it and it had 29 days on every fourth year and 28 days otherwise. Februa is the Roman festival of purification, held on February fifteenth. It is possibly of Sabine origin.
Intercalaris -- inter-calendar month
Latin Intercalaris means "inter-calendar". Intercalaris had 27 days until the month was abolished by Julius.
March -- Mars' month
Latin Martius means "month of Mars". Martius has always had 31 days. March was the original beginning of the year, and the time for the resumption of war. Mars is the Roman god of war. He is identified with the Greek god Ares.
April -- Aphrodite's month
Aprilis had 30 days, Numa changed it and it had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 30 days long. Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love and beauty. She is identified with the Roman goddess Venus.
May -- Maia's month
Latin Maius means "month of Maia". Maius has always had 31 days. Maia (meaning "the great one") is the Italic goddess of spring, the daughter of Faunus, and wife of Vulcan.
June -- Juno's month
Latin Junius means "month of Juno".Junius had 30 days, Numa changed it and it had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 30 days long. Juno is the principle goddess of the Roman Pantheon. She is the goddess of marriage and the well-being of women. She is the wife and sister of Jupiter. She is identified with the Greek goddess Hera.
July -- Julius Caesar's month
Latin Julius means "month of Julius"
Latin quintilis means "fifth month"
Quintilis (and later Julius) has always had 31 days.
Julius Caesar reformed the Roman calendar (hence the Julian calendar) in 46 BC. In the process, he renamed this month after himself.
August -- Augustus Caesar's month
Augustus means "month of Augustus"
Latin sextilis means "sixth month". Sextilis had 30 days, Numa changed it and it had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 31 days long.
Augustus Caesar clarified and completed the calendar reform of Julius Caesar. In the process, he also renamed this month after himself.
September -- the seventh month
Latin september means "seventh month". September had 30 days, Numa changed it and it had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 30 days long. In roman calander november was the nineth month.
October -- the eighth month
Latin october means "eighth month". October has always had 31 days.In roman calander september was the seventh month.
November -- the nineth month
Latin Novembris means "nineth month". In roman calander november was the nineth month. Novembris had 30 days, Numa changed it and it had 29 days, caeser changed it and it became 30 days long.
December -- the tenth month
Latin december "tenth month". In roman calander December was the tenth month.
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