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Origins of the Months' Names

View a calendar of festivals and holy days for each month by clicking its name.

• January From the Roman republican calendar month Januarius, named for Janus, god of beginnings and doorways.
• February From Roman republican calendar month Februarius, named for Februa, the feast of purification held on the 15th.
• March From Roman republican calendar month Martius, named for the god Mars.
• April From Roman republican calendar month Aprilis. The Romans considered the month sacred to the goddess Venus, and its name may derive from that of her Greek equivalent, Aphrodite.
• May From Roman republican calendar month Maius, probably named for the goddess Maia.
• June From Roman republican calendar month Junius, probably named for the goddess Juno.
• July From Roman republican calendar month Julius, named for Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
• August From Roman republican calendar month Augustus, named for the emperor Augustus in 8 BC.
• September Seventh month of early Roman republican calendar, from Latin septem, or seven.
• October Eighth month of early Roman republican calendar, from Latin octo, or eight.
• November Ninth month of early Roman republican calendar, from Latin nove, or nine.
• December Tenth month of early Roman republican calendar, from Latin decem, or ten.