From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!floyd!vax135!ariel!rra
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: Names of Months
Article-I.D.: ariel.124
Posted: Tue Nov  2 11:31:51 1982
Received: Wed Nov  3 02:42:21 1982
References: alice.1018

The calendar history is about as follows:

The year originally began in March and ended with December, the tenth month.
All the rest of the year was called "winter", when nothing was done.
Eventually "winter" was divided into two months - January and
February.  Since February was the last month it got whatever days were not
used by the other months.  That is why it has the leap day added to it.
And why Augustus felt free to take an extra day for "his" month.

January became the first month, and was named for the two=faced god,
Janus, who looks both ways.

February was named for the fever which was, and still is, common then.

Mars was not only the god of war, but of the farm, and in his month
of spring, farming started.

April was probably named for the unfolding, the opening up
that occurs then in the fields.

May and June may have been named for persons, or gods, but may also
have been named for the "major" and "junior" months of the 
agricultural season.

July for Julius Ceaser and August for Augustus Ceasar.

					rra
					ariel!rra