Months

#	Latin months	English	#
1	Martius	March	3	after Mars, God of War
2	Aprilis	April	4	after Apru or Aphrodite
3	Maius	May	5	after Maia
4	Iunius	June	6	after Juno
5	Quintilis Iulius	July	7	after Julius Caesar 44 BC
6	Sextilis Augustus	August	8	after Augustus Caesar 8 BC
7		September	9	Latin septa, Greek hepta
8		October	10	octagon ‑ eight sided figure
9		November	11	noon ‑ ninth hour, later 12 noon
10		December	12	decimal = based on 10
11	Ianuarius	January	1	Latin Ianus
12	Februarius	February	2	Latin Februa

The months of the year are one aspect of calendars. The original Roman calendar started with March, with no (winter) months after December.

The Latin word "mensis" ≈ "month".
The German word "Monat" ≈ "month".
The modern Greek word "μηνάς" (mee-NAS) ≈ "month". The ancient Greek word is "μην".
The Middle English word "monthe" ≈ "month".
The Russian word "месяц" (mes-yats) ≈ "month, moon".

All the words here for "month" are cognate in that they have a common the PIE (Proto Indo-European) root "*mehns" ≈ "moon, month" and are related to the words for "moon" in many languages.

Genesis 8:4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. [kjv]

… הרי … [he]

και εκαθισεν η κιβωτος εν μηνι τω εβδομω εβδομη και εικαδι του μηνος επι τα ορη τα αραρατ [lxx]

The Hebrew word "הרי" (ha-re) ≈ "the mountains". The "mountains" of Ararat span thousands of miles.

11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [kjv]

και εγενετο εν τω κινησαι αυτους απο ανατολων ευρον πεδιον εν γη σεννααρ και κατωκησαν εκει [lxx]

Speaking about the passover, Moses is later given the following directive from God.

Exodus 12:2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. [kjv]

ο μην ουτος υμιν αρχη μηνων πρωτος εστιν υμιν εν τοις μησιν του ενιαυτου [lxx]

This created two calendars in Israel, a civil calendar and a religious calendar, with a change of 6 months.

New moon on the 14th of a 28 day lunar cycle.
Add three days and three nights to get the 17th.

Note that if one reconciles the "three days and three nights" in the grave with resurrection Sunday, then the 14th of the month is Passover (according to the above calendar change and following verses) and the 17th of the month is resurrection Sunday. With the month change above, resurrection Sunday is on the anniversary of the resting of Noah's arc on mountains of Ararat.

Details are left as a future topic.

Genesis 11:2

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KJV: And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Hebrew: ויהי בנסעם מקדם וימצאו בקעה בארץ שנער וישבו שם׃

Greek: και εγενετο εν τω κινησαι αυτους απο ανατολων ευρον πεδιον εν γη σεννααρ και κατωκησαν εκει

Genesis 8:4

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KJV: And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

Hebrew: ותנח התבה בחדש השביעי בשבעה עשר יום לחדש על הרי אררט׃

Greek: και εκαθισεν η κιβωτος εν μηνι τω εβδομω εβδομη και εικαδι του μηνος επι τα ορη τα αραρατ

Latin: requievitque arca mense septimo vicesima septima die mensis super montes Armeniae

Wycliffe: And the schip restide in the seuenthe monthe, in the seuene and twentithe dai of the monthe, on the hillis of Armenye.

Luther: Am siebzehnten Tage des siebenten Mondes ließ sich der Kasten nieder auf das Gebirge Ararat.

Exodus 12:2

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KJV: This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.

Hebrew: החדש הזה לכם ראש חדשים ראשון הוא לכם לחדשי השנה׃

Greek: ο μην ουτος υμιν αρχη μηνων πρωτος εστιν υμιν εν τοις μησιν του ενιαυτου

Latin: mensis iste vobis principium mensuum primus erit in mensibus anni

Wycliffe: This monethe, the bigynnyng of monethis to you, schal be the firste in the monethis of the yeer.

Note that there are controversies regarding the physical locations of the landing of Noah's Arc on the mountains of Ararat and of Mount Sinai. The traditionally accepted locations, which both appear to contradict what the Bible says, were established by Roman Emperor Constantin's mother Helena when she went in search of locations of the Holy sites of the Bible. It just so happened that the sites sought, including Mount Ararat and Mount Sinai, were within the bounds of the Roman Empire at the time. How lucky can one get?

Details are left as a future topic.

In the Roman calendar system, January eventually became is the first month of the year. January is named for the Roman god Janus or, in Latin, "ianvs" or "Ianus". The Roman God Janus has two faces, one looking back and one looking forward.
From the Latin word "ianua" for "door", the Latin word "ianitor" meant "porter" or "doorman" - the gatekeeper.

The Latin word "ianua" ≈ "door".
The Latin word "ianitor" ≈ "porter, doorman" from which we get the English word "janitor", originally one who controlled access via a "door".

The Latin word "Ianuarius" ≈ "January" is name for the "ianua" ≈ "door" since January is the door to the new year. This word appears many times in the Latin Vulgate.

More: An usher for the door

January full moons are sometimes called "wolf moons," for when hungry wolves used to howl at night in wintertime. Shutterstock (2020-01-12)
The super blood wolf moon, which will be visible in its entirety in North and South America on Jan. 20, occurs when the moon and sun are on the opposite sides of Earth, and the moon moves into Earth's shadow. today.com (2020-01-12)

What is a "full moon"?

A crazy guy acting like a cow. Why do they call it a "full moon" when you can only see half of it?

The year 2018 (about every 20 years) had a February without a full moon.

More: Sheep dogs and wolf dogs

Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. [kjv]

και ελθων ο ιησους εις την οικιαν πετρου ειδεν την πενθεραν αυτου βεβλημενην και πυρεσσουσαν [gnt]

… febricitantem [v]

The Latin word "februum" ≈ "purification" which is cognate with the Latin word "febris" ≈ "fever" from the PIE root "*DEG" ≈ "burn, warm" and from which we get the English word "fever".

The month of February was once the last month of the year, and is the only month to have less than 30 days.

The Roman purification ritual of February was on February 15, the full moon of the original Roman lunar calendar. The Latin word "februum" ≈ "purification".

Colossians 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [kjv]

α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου [gnt]

The Punxsutawney Phil tradition dates from about 1870.
The Pennsylvania Dutch superstition may come from the German "Dachstag" ≈ "Badger Day" with a similar tradition. The German word "Dachs" ≈ "groundhog" and is the source of the English word "dachshund".

What does the French groundhog see on February 2?

His chateau. This is a holistic burrow.

Pennsylvania Dutch superstition: If a groundhog emerges from its burrow on February 2 and sees its shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. Otherwise, spring is near.

Colossians 2:17

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KJV: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

Greek: α εστιν σκια των μελλοντων το δε σωμα του χριστου

The month of February was once the last month of the year, and is the only month to have less than 30 days.

The Latin word "februum" ≈ "purification" as in purging of the old.

The Roman purification ritual of February was on February 15, the full moon of the original Roman lunar calendar.

February is the only month in which it is possible not to have a new moon during the month. This last happened in 2018. (as of 2023-02-24)

A legend created in the 13th century A.D. is that one day was taken to add to July to honor Julius Caesar, and one day was then taken to add to August to honor Augustus Caesar.

Matthew 8:14

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KJV: And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Greek: και ελθων ο ιησους εις την οικιαν πετρου ειδεν την πενθεραν αυτου βεβλημενην και πυρεσσουσαν

Latin: et cum venisset Iesus in domum Petri vidit socrum eius iacentem et febricitantem

Wessex: Þa se haelend com on peteres huse þa geseah he his swygre liggende. & hriðiende.

Wycliffe: And whanne Jhesus was comun in to the hous of Symount Petre, he say his wyues modir liggynge, and shakun with feueris.

Tyndale: And then Iesus went to Peters housse and sawe hys wyves mother lyinge sicke of a fevre

Geneva: And when Iesus came to Peters house, he sawe his wiues mother layed downe, and sicke of a feuer.

Gothic: jah qimands iesus in garda paitraus, jah gasahv swaihron is ligandein in heitom.

Luther: Und Jesus kam in des Petrus Haus und sah, daß seine Schwieger lag und hatte das Fieber.

Spanish: Y vino Jesús a casa de Pedro, y vio a la suegra deéste, postrada, y con fiebre.

These words are cognate with the ancient Greek word "τέφρα" ≈ "ashes" as in a funeral pyre.

2 Peter 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; [kjv]

και πολεις σοδομων και γομορρας τεφρωσας καταστροφη κατεκρινεν υποδειγμα μελλοντων ασεβεσιν τεθεικως [gnt]

2 Peter 2:6

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KJV: And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Greek: και πολεις σοδομων και γομορρας τεφρωσας καταστροφη κατεκρινεν υποδειγμα μελλοντων ασεβειν ασεβεσιν τεθεικως

Latin: et civitates Sodomorum et Gomorraeorum in cinerem redigens eversione damnavit exemplum eorum qui impie acturi sunt ponens

Wycliffe: and he droof in to poudre the citees of men of Sodom and of men of Gommor, and dampnede bi turnyng vpsedoun, and putte hem the ensaumple of hem that weren to doynge yuele;

Luther: und hat die Städte Sodom und Gomorra zu Asche gemacht, umgekehret und verdammt, damit ein Exempel gesetzt den Gottlosen, die hernach kommen würden;

Spanish: y si condenó por destrucción las ciudades de Sodoma y de Gomorra, tornándolas en ceniza, y poniéndolas de ejemplo a los que habían de vivir impíamente,

The Middle English word "fevere" ≈ "fever".
The Old English word "fefor" ≈ "fever" which replaced the Old English word "hriþ" ≈ "fever".
The Gothic word "heitom" ≈ "fever"
The German word "Fieber" ≈ "fever".
The Spanish word "fiebre" ≈ "fever".

The Romans started their year in the spring with March. Winter months were added later with February 28 as the end of the year.

Later, the beginning of the year was moved to January 1.
Julius Caesar added one day to February every four year in the Julian Calendar.

To fix small errors, the Gregorian calendar adds the leap day using different rules.

Currently, the Julian calendar used by the Eastern Orthodox church is 13 days different than the Gregorian calendar. In 1752 when the United States changed, it was 11 days different.

[Benjamin Franklin]

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. [kjv]

και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ [lxx]

March is the first month of the year in the old Roman calendar. The French word "Mardi" ≈ "Tuesday" from the Latin "dies Martis" ≈ "day of Mars" where Mars is the God of War and the basis for the month name of "March" - the time when ancient folk would go to war.

After this verse, David takes an interest in Bathsheba.

March 14: Pi day

2 Samuel 11:1

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KJV: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Hebrew: ויהי לתשובת השנה לעת צאת המלאכים וישלח דוד את יואב ואת עבדיו עמו ואת כל ישראל וישחתו את בני עמון ויצרו על רבה ודוד יושב בירושלם׃

Greek: και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ

Latin: factum est ergo vertente anno eo tempore quo solent reges ad bella procedere misit David Ioab et servos suos cum eo et universum Israhel et vastaverunt filios Ammon et obsederunt Rabba David autem remansit in Hierusalem

Wycliffe: Forsothe it was doon, whanne the yeer turnede ayen in that tyme wherynne kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Dauid sente Joab, and with hym hise seruauntis, and al Israel; and thei distrieden the sones of Amon, and bisegiden Rabath; forsothe Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem.

Luther: Und da das Jahr um kam, zur Zeit wenn die Könige pflegen auszuziehen, sandte David Joab und seine Knechte mit ihm und das ganze Israel, daß sie die Kinder Ammon verderbeten und belegten Rabba, David aber blieb zu Jerusalem.

1 Chronicles 20:1 And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it. [kjv]

και εγενετο εν τω επιοντι ετει εν τη εξοδω των βασιλεων και ηγαγεν ιωαβ πασαν την δυναμιν της στρατιας και εφθειραν την χωραν υιων αμμων και ηλθεν και περιεκαθισεν την ραββα και δαυιδ εκαθητο εν ιερουσαλημ και επαταξεν ιωαβ την ραββα και κατεσκαψεν αυτην [lxx]

The same idea is expressed in Chronicles. There is a lot of repetition as, in general, Kings contains the secular history and Chronicles contains the religious history.

Many modern English versions use "Spring time" for "after the year was expired".

Roman calendars (and other groups) started the year in what is called March, the month of Spring and the month of war. Later, the Romans moved the start of the year to January, which is why the names September (for seventh month) through December (the tenth month) still reflect that older start of the year in March.

1 Chronicles 20:1

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KJV: And it came to pass, that after the year was expired, at the time that kings go out to battle, Joab led forth the power of the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried at Jerusalem. And Joab smote Rabbah, and destroyed it.

Hebrew: ויהי לעת תשובת השנה לעת צאת המלכים וינהג יואב את חיל הצבא וישחת את ארץ בני עמון ויבא ויצר את רבה ודויד ישב בירושלם ויך יואב את רבה ויהרסה׃

Greek: και εγενετο εν τω επιοντι ετει εν τη εξοδω των βασιλεων και ηγαγεν ιωαβ πασαν την δυναμιν της στρατιας και εφθειραν την χωραν υιων αμμων και ηλθεν και περιεκαθισεν την ραββα και δαυιδ εκαθητο εν ιερουσαλημ και επαταξεν ιωαβ την ραββα και κατεσκαψεν αυτην

In the United States, March 14, or 3/14, is PI day, from the Greek π symbol for the ratio of the circumference to diameter of a circle. In Europe, Pi day is July 22 or 22/7, from the Archimedes approximation of pi, from the 3rd century BC, of 22/7.

March 14: Pi day
Month	day	Europe	United States
March	14	14/3	3/14
July	22	22/7	7/22

Europe puts the day first, then the month.
The United States puts the month first, then the day (not the military).

Albert Einstein (1879-1955) was born on pi day on March 14, 1879.

More: March 14: Pi day

The "Ides of March" is often associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BC.
The Latin word "Idus Martiae" ≈ "Ides of March" was on March 15, eight days after the "nones", where March is named for the god of War. The Latin word "idus" ≈ "divide" from an Etruscan verb.

Details are left as a future topic.

Saint Patrick's Day is March 17, the date of his (supposed) death. Tradition is that Leprechauns wear green. If you do not wear green, you risk getting pinched. Green is invisible to Leprechauns.

Saint Patrick, known as the "Apostle of Ireland" and patron saint of Ireland, was a Christian missionary during the 5th century AD.

At about age 16 he was captured by Irish pirates raiding Britain and made a slave tending animals. After six years he escaped and returned to his family. He became a cleric and returned to his place of captivity as a missionary.

More: March 17: Saint Patrick's Day

May is the third month of the year in the old Roman calendar.

Latin Maius= 3rd month (May, after Maia)

Saying: April showers bring May flowers.

The Old English word "Þrimilcemonaþ" ≈ "three-milkings month" which was the Anglo-Saxon word for the month of May, as recorded by Bede (name meaning "prayer") in his work De Temporibus (On Time, about 703). Bede started dating dates from the birth of Christ and that has continued to this day.

Some milk cow jokes could be uttered here, but that might be utter (udder) disaster.

More: Cow paths

The first Thursday in May is "National Day of Prayer".

May 4 is "Star Wars" day, as in "May the force be with you".

The term "Cinco de Mayo" means "fifth of May" or "May 5" in Spanish. The Spanish word "cinco" ≈ "five".

What is the "sixth hour"? The Latin phrase "sexta hora" ≈ "sixth hour".

What did the Latin phrase for "sixth hour" become in Spanish?

siesta hour shortened to siesta

More: The ninth hour: finished at noon

The English word "June" comes, through French, from the Latin word "Iunius" ≈ "Junius" the Roman month of the goddess the Latin word "Iuno" ≈ "Juno" patron of rulers and childbirth. Equivalent to the Greek Hera.

Flag day: June 14: Adoption of the United States flag in 1777.
Juneteenth day: June 19. Commemorating the end of slavery in the United States in 1865. Also called Emancipation Day .
June: Serious baseball season, but not yet the stretch.

To honor Julius Caesar (100-44 BC), the month of "Quintilis" was named July in honor of him.
A legend created in the 13th century A.D. is that one day was taken to add to July to honor Julius Caesar, and one day was then taken to add to August to honor Augustus Caesar.

"Dog days" begin in early July.

September is the 7th month in the Roman calendar.

October is the 8th month in the Roman calendar.

More: October 31: Halloween

November is the 9th month in the Roman calendar.

More: November 11: Veterans Day

All Saints day is on November 1, which appears to many to have been chosen to compete with the Pagan holiday called Samhain around the same date. This day starts the evening before, or the "evening of the hallowed" or "Hallows evening" or "Halloween" or "All Hallow Even".

The ancient Greek word "ἅγιος" ≈ "devoted to the gods, sacred, holy".
The ancient Greek word "ἱερός" ≈ "connected with the gods, supernatural, holy, sacred".

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

More: Wholesome and healthy sanctified saints