THE CALENDAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 22, 26 January 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE CALENDAR.

naming the months

A ROMAN YEAR,

January is derived from Janus, a

[ heathen deity, who was supposed to preI side over the gates of heaven. He was I represented with two faces, one looking | towards the old year, the other towards j the new. He was the first king of Italy, and the ancient Romans used to give the doors in their houses the name of Janua. The heathens of old used to celebrate the festival of New Years Day with every sort of veneration, and the primitive Christians kept it as a "solemn fast, which is still partially observed in England. The Saxon name of January means " wolf month," as the wolves at that season are desperately mischievous, from being unable to procure food. February is derived from Februo, to purify, because the feasts of purification were celebrated at this season; but the Romans offered sacrifice to their goddess Februo for the spirits of their departed friends. In the Saxon language its name implies " colewort," or "spring-wort," because worts begin to spring about this time. March was originally the first mouth in the Roman year, and was dedicated to Mars, the god of war. Its Saxon name means " lengthening month," as the days begin visibly to lengthen; rather, the days begin to be longer than the nights.

April is so called from aperio, which signifies to open, because nature now begins to reveal its hidden charms and expand its beauties. In Saxon it was called " Oster," or " Easter Monat," because the feast of their goddess Eastre was then celebrated.

May was so named by Romulus, the founder of Rome, in honour of Maia, the mother of Mercury; but its Saxon name signifies " three milkings," as they then milked their cows three times daily.

June was so termed by the Romans in honour of Mercury, who was represented as a juvenile figure, to which they applied the word Junius. The Saxons called it "weyd," or " meadow " month, because their cattle were then turned out to feed in the meadows.

July was originally called by the Romans Quintilis, being the fifth month of their year, but was changed to Julius in honour of Julius Caesar. In Saxon it was called " hay month," as they used to cut their hay at this season. August was anciently called by the Romans Sextis,' or sixth month from March; but in honour of Augustus Caesar, second emperor of Rome, it was changed to August. The Saxons called it "arn-monat," or " barn-month," i because they then filled their barns.

September was derived from Septem, the seventh month of the Roman year, and imber, which means a shower. The Saxons named it "grist month," as they then carried their new corn to the mill.

October was the eighth month of the Roman year, reckoning from March. In Saxon its name denotes " wine-month," because their grapes were then pressed to make wine! or "winter-month," as the winter commenced with the full moon of this month.

November is derived from " novem" and "imber," or the ninth month of the Roman year. In Saxon it was sometimes called " blot-monat," or " blood-month," from the number of cattle slain and stored for winter others named it " windy month," because of the high winds common in this month. And

December, from " decern," the tenth month of the Roman year;'the Saxons called it " winter-month," from the intensity of the cold, or "holy-montli," on account of the nativity of Christ.