How did the months get their names?

TL;DR

Learn how the names of the months originate from Roman gods, emperors, and Latin words.

Transcript

Hi. This is Gill here from engVid, and today's lesson is on the subject of the "Months of the Year" and where the names for the months come from. This links to an earlier lesson I did on the days of the week and where those names come from. And this is very similar, really, because a lot of the names come from Roman times, the Roman Empire, the emp... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫚 The names of the months are rooted in Roman mythology, gods, and historical figures.
• 📅 March was the original first month in the Roman calendar, with January and February added later.
• 📛 Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar have months named in their honor.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the Roman Empire influence the names of the months?

The names of the months are linked to Roman gods, emperors, Latin words, and historical events, reflecting the cultural and historical significance of the Roman Empire.

Q: Why was March considered the first month in the Roman calendar?

March was the first month in the Roman calendar as it was initially counted from March, with January and February being added later, a tradition that shifted with the Gregorian Calendar.

Q: What is the significance of renaming months after Julius Caesar and Augustus Caesar?

Julius Caesar's birth month, Quintilis, and Augustus Caesar's birth month, Sextilis, were renamed in their honor, demonstrating the influence of Roman leaders on the calendar.

Q: Why do September, October, November, and December have numerical names despite their position in the calendar?

These months were originally the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months in the Roman calendar, but subsequent additions shifted their positions, leading to the discrepancy between their names and order.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The names of the months have origins in Roman mythology, gods, emperors, and Latin words.

• Each month's name is connected to a specific deity or historical figure like Janus, Mars, Julius Caesar, and Augustus.

• The naming of the months dates back to the Roman Empire and has influenced the modern calendar system.