The Months of the Year Are Pagan

In English the months of the year are derived from Roman religion, Roman martial customs, and the Roman calendar. Pictured, Lucius Vorenus from HBO's Rome. The original Roman year had ten months. The months in which there was no war, January and February, were originally not counted. Month in this case means, simply, cycle of the moon (moonth).

January = the month of Janus, the Roman god of doors, endings, beginnings and choices

February = the month of Februare, i.e. Fever (purification before war) Febre.

March = the month of Mars, or war. Campaigns were typically begun in March.

April = the month of aperire (Latin, “to open”)

May = the month of the Greek goddess Maia, identified with Roman goddess of fertility Bona Dea.

June = the month of Juno, goddess of marriage and wife to Jupiter.

July = the month of Julius Caesar

August = the month of Augustus Caesar

September = the seventh month, when the Roman calendar had ten months

October = the eighth month, when the Roman calendar had ten months

November = the ninth month, when the Roman calendar had ten months

December = the tenth month, when the Roman calendar had ten months