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The Names Of The Months


THE DERIVATIONS OF THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS.



January.--The Roman god Janus presided over the beginning of everything;

hence the first month of the year was called after him.



February.--The Roman festival Februs was held on the 15th day of this

month, in honor of Lupercus, the god of fertility.



March--Named from the Roman god of war, Mars.



April.--Latin, Aprilis, pr
bably derived from aperire, to open; because

spring generally begins, and the buds open in this month.



May.--Lat. Maius, probably derived from Maia, a feminine divinity

worshiped at Rome on the first day of this month.



June.--Juno, a Roman divinity worshiped as the Queen of Heaven.



July (Julius)--Julius Caesar was born in this month.



August.--Named by the Emperor Augustus Caesar, B. C. 30, after himself,

as he regarded it as a fortunate month, being that in which he had

gained several victories.



September (septem, or 7).--September was the seventh month in the old

Roman calendar.



October (octo, or 8).--Eighth month of the old Roman year.



November (novem, or 9).-November was the ninth month in the old Roman

year.



December (decem, or 10).--December was the tenth month of the early

Roman year. About the 21st of this month the sun enters the Tropic of

Capricorn, and forms the winter solstice.



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