Abstract
The modern names of calendar months, commonly used across most European languages, have ancient Roman origins and serve as a key element of cultural continuity between Antiquity, Byzantium, and the Eastern Slavic world. This article explores the etymology and meaning of each month’s name and traces how these terms entered the East Slavic linguistic and cultural sphere via Byzantine influence after the Christianization of Kievan Rus’.
Introduction
Month names are everyday terms whose origins often escape public awareness. However, a closer etymological examination reveals deep historical and cultural roots. Most European languages inherited their month names from Latin, which originated in ancient Rome. Through Byzantine cultural transmission, these terms entered the East Slavic tradition after the adoption of Christianity in 988 CE.
The Roman Calendar System: From 10 to 12 Months
Originally, the Roman calendar consisted of ten months (304 days). Winter was considered a “timeless” period, not requiring formal names. In 713 BCE, King Numa Pompilius reformed the calendar by adding two winter months—January and February—thus aligning the calendar with the solar year (365 days). Many of the month names reflect either ordinal numbering or cultural-religious associations.
Etymological Origins of Month Names
- January (Januarius)
Derived from janua (Latin for “door”), symbolizing the gateway into the new year. It was named after Janus, the two-faced Roman god of beginnings, endings, and transitions. - February (Februarius)
Named after Februus, an Etruscan deity associated with the underworld, purification, and wealth. Romans performed cleansing rituals (februa) in mid-February, giving the month its name. - March (Martius)
Named in honor of Mars, the god of war. It marked the beginning of the military campaign season in ancient Rome. - April (Aprilis)
Likely from the Latin aperire (“to open”), referring to the blossoming of nature and the opening of spring. - May (Maius)
Named after the Greek goddess Maia, associated with fertility. She was identified with the Roman goddess Bona Dea (“the Good Goddess”). - June (Junius)
Derived from the name of Juno, the goddess of marriage and domestic life. Romans believed marriages performed in June were destined for happiness. - July (Julius)
Originally Quintilis (the fifth month), renamed in 44 BCE to honor Julius Caesar, who implemented the Julian calendar reform. - August (Augustus)
Initially Sextilis (the sixth month), renamed in 8 BCE after Caesar’s heir, Emperor Augustus. The Latin term augustus means “venerable” or “majestic.”
9–12. September, October, November, December
These names derive from Latin numerals: septem (7), octo (8), novem (9), and decem (10), reflecting their position in the original 10-month calendar.
Cultural Transmission Through Byzantium
Following the Christianization of Kievan Rus’ in 988 CE, Byzantine ecclesiastical and administrative influence introduced the Latin month names via Church Slavonic texts. These names became entrenched in Old Russian chronicles, religious manuscripts, and legal documents, forming part of the cultural legacy of the Eastern Orthodox world.
Conclusion
Month names are not mere temporal markers; they are cultural artifacts that reflect the mythological, religious, and administrative structures of ancient Rome. Through Byzantium, they became embedded in the East Slavic tradition, illustrating the resilience and continuity of cultural forms over more than a millennium.
