– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
JANUARY
Homage to Jano, god with two faces, one facing forward and the other backward. Protector of entrances and exits, he was also considered the god of beginnings and beginnings – like the first hour of the day and the first month of the year.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
FEBRUARY
Reference to the festival celebrated at that time of year in Rome called Februália, or Purification – when sacrifices were offered to the dead to appease them.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
MARCH
Dedicated to Mars, god of war. In that month – the first of the year before the reform carried out by Pompilius -, sacred shields were carried by the priests around the city, in homage to the divinity.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
APRIL
There are two hypotheses. The first says that the name would be a tribute to Aphrodite, goddess of love, to whom the month is consecrated. The second states that it would be derived from the Latin word aperire, a reference to the opening of flowers, since, in this period, it is spring in the northern hemisphere.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
MAY
Goddess responsible for the growth of plants and mother of Mercury, Maia was the divinity celebrated at this time of year.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
JUNE
Goddess of marriage and childbirth, Juno was considered the protector of women, especially legitimate wives.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
JULY
Initially called Quintilis, for being the fifth month, it was renamed in honor of the dictator Julius Caesar, in 44 BC
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
AUGUST
The original name Sextilis was replaced, in 8 AD, to honor Emperor Caesar Augustus, who reformed the structure of government of the Roman Empire, in addition to adding new territories to it.
– (Eduardo Medeiros/)
SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER and DECEMBER
The name “September” comes from the Latin septem, or seven. This was the seventh month of the first Roman calendar, before Pompilius’ reform. “October” comes from the Latin octo, or eight. It was the eighth month before Pompilius’ reform. “November” comes from the Latin novem and “December” comes from the Latin decem, or ten. It was the tenth and final month of the first Roman calendar.