In 738 B.C., the Romans adopted the ten-month lunar calendar from the Greeks.  Those months were Martius (named for Mars – the god of war), Aprilius (named for aperio which means “to open” – a reference to flowers blooming in spring), Maius (named for the goddess who was in charge of the growth of plants), Junius (named for the goddess Juno), Quintilis (fifth), Sextilis (sixth), September (seventh), October (eighth), November (ninth), and December (tenth).  Around 700 B.C., Januarius (named after the Janus – the god of doorways) was put at the beginning and Februarius (from the Roman word “februa” which meant “to cleanse”;  Februalia was a festival of purification and atonement) at the end.  In 452 B.C., Februarius was moved to the second month.  In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar switched to a solar calendar with a leap year every four years.  All the months were given either 30 or 31 days, except Februarius with 29 (30 in a leap year).  After his death, Quintilis was named after him.  Augustus had Sextilis renamed after himself.  In order to have the same number of days as July, August stole a day from Februarius.

https://www.wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-dont-all-months-have-the-same-number-of-days

https://www.almanac.com/content/how-did-months-get-their-names

                     the Roman god Janus


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