months of the year

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months of the year

Month

Derivation

January

From the Roman month Januarius and named after Janus ― god of doors, gates and new beginnings [31 days]

February

From the Roman month Februarius and named after Februa, festival of purification on the 15th [28 days, and 29 in Leap Years]

March

From the Roman month of Martius and named after Mars, god of war [31 days]

April

From the Roman month Aprilis ― possibly derived from the Latin aperire in reference to the blossoming of spring [30 days]

May

From the Roman month Maius, after Maia, goddess of growth [31 days]

June

From the Roman month Junius and named after Juno, goddess of marriage [30 days]

July

From the Roman month Julius and named after the Emperor Julius Caesar in 44 bc [31 days]

August

From the Roman month Augustus and named after the Emperor Augustus in 8 bc [31 days]

September

7th month of the early Roman calendar, from the Latin septem (seven) [30 days]

October

8th month of the early Roman calendar, from the Latin octo (eight) [31 days]

November

9th month of the early Roman calendar, from the Latin novem (nine) [30 days]

December

10th month of the early Roman calendar, from the Latin decem (ten) [31 days]