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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and its something that has
always interested me. So, this page is dedicated to scribbling down any words I
can remember :-)
Dates & Times
| January |
Januarius - This month is dedicated to Janus, the Roman
god of doors. Janus has two faces, one
looking back at the old year and the other looking forward to the next
year |
| February |
Februa was the Roman purification festival, which took
place at this time of the year. |
| March |
from Mars, the Roman god of war. |
| April |
Aprilis - from Aperire, Latin for open, because plants
begin to open during this month. |
| May |
Maius - probably comes from Maia, the Roman goddess of
growth and increase. |
| June |
Juhius - either from a Roman family name Junius, which
means young, or perhaps after the goddess Juno. |
| July |
Julius - after Julius Ceasar. This month was named in
Ceasar's honour by Mark Antony in 44 BC. Previously this month was
called Ouintilis from the word quintus, five, as it was fifth month in
the Roman calendar. |
| August |
Augustus - named in 8 BC in honour of Emperor Augustus. |
| September |
September - from septem, seven, because it was the
seventh month in the Roman calendar. |
| October |
from octo, eight (as in octopus, which has eight legs),
the eighth month in the Roman calendar. |
| November |
From novem, nine, the ninth month in the Roman calendar. |
| December |
From decem, ten, the tenth month in the Roman calendar |
| Monday |
Moon's day |
| Tuesday |
Tiu's-day: Mars, the Roman god of war, was adopted in
Scandinavian mythology as the warrior Tiu or Tiw. |
| Wednesday |
Woden's day: the Roman god Mercury became the
Scandinavian god Woden. |
| Thursday |
Thor's day: like the Roman god Jupiter, Thor was a
thunder god |
| Friday |
Freyja's day: like Venus, Freyja or Frigg was the
goddess of love. |
| Saturday |
Saturn's day. |
| Sunday |
Sun's day |
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