The Fascinating Origins of Our Month Names

📅January was named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings. It was not always the first month of the year.

❄️February comes from Februus, the Roman god of death and purification. It was the last month in the Roman calendar at one point.

🌼March was originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar. It was dedicated to Mars, the god of war.

☔April gets its name from the Latin word Aprilis, but its origin is uncertain. It may be related to the Greek goddess Aphrodite or the Latin verb 'Aperire' meaning 'to open'.

🐄May was named after the Roman goddess Maia. In Old English, it was called 'Þrīmilcemōnað' meaning 'three milk month' because cows were milked thrice a day.

Were the month names always the same as they are now?

—No, the month names have changed over time. January and February were not always the first two months, and some months had alternative names in Old English.

What are the alternative names for the months in Old English?

—Some examples of alternative names in Old English include 'Æfterra Gēola' for January and 'Ǣrra Līða' for June.

What was the significance of the Roman gods in naming the months?

—The Romans named many months after their gods, such as Janus for January and Mars for March. These names reflected the associations and qualities of the respective gods.

Did the Anglo Saxons have their own names for the months?

—Yes, the Anglo Saxons had alternative names for some months in Old English, often based on seasonal events or festivals.

Why were January and February moved to the beginning of the year?

—January, named after Janus, the god of beginnings, was moved to the beginning of the year in 153 BC to symbolize a fresh start. February was also moved to accommodate the new order.

00:00Introduction and sponsor mention

00:09Overview of the video topic - the origins of month names and their changes over time

01:11January - named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings

03:30February - derived from Februus, the Roman god of death and purification

05:36March - originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar, dedicated to Mars, the god of war

07:49April - origin uncertain, possibly related to the Greek goddess Aphrodite or the Latin verb 'Aperire' meaning 'to open'

09:42May - named after the Roman goddess Maia; alternative name 'Þrīmilcemōnað' meaning 'three milk month'

11:06June - named after the Roman deity Juno, goddess of women and marriage; alternative name 'Ǣrra Līða'

12:17July - named after Julius Caesar, previously known as Quintilis, the fifth month

14:00August - named after Augustus Caesar, previously known as Sextīlis, the sixth month

15:24September, October, November, December - derived from their original positions in the Roman calendar

17:09Alternative names for September, October, November, December in Old English

18:13Conclusion and closing remarks