www.calendar-origins.com
clipart
 Typically
based on the moon (lunar)
 1st Twelve month calendar – Egyptians
• 12 months – 30 days and 5 extra days
 Julian Calendar (Julius Caesar)
• the year 46 BCE lasted 445 (seasons had switched)
• 365 ¼ days (11.5 minutes too long)
 Gregorian Calendar – Pope Gregory XIII
• century leap years that are divisible by 400
• 1600 & 2000 are leap years; 1700 & 2100 are not
 10
months and a total of
304 days
 1st month – Martius
 Aprilis, Maius, Junius,
Quintilis, Sextilis,
September, October,
November, and December
 Julius Caesar – changed
calendar to 365 days and
12 months
http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Fasti.html
 Janus
– Roman god
who represented
new beginnngs
 Two faces
• see all things past
• and future
http://itthing.com/months-of-the-year-how-did-they-get-their-names
 Februa
- an ancient
purification festival
 Time
when houses
were cleansed
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Les_Tr%C3%A8s_Riches_Heures_du_duc_de_Berry_f%C3%A9vrier.jpg
 The
stormy and windy
month is named for the
“god of war”
 Ferocious
invasion of a
windy, blustery lion
(animal of war)
http://itthing.com/months-of-the-year-how-did-they-get-their-names
 Aprillis
– month for
goddess Venus
 Aperit – Latin for “to
open”
• flowers
• opening of growing season
http://itthing.com/wp-content/uploads/April.jpg
 Maia
– goddess of
fertility
 In charge of newly
growing plants
http://itthing.com/wp-content/uploads/May.jpg
 Juno
– married to Jupiter
 Month
for weddings and
celebrations
craftychickscuppacoffee.blogspot.com
 Named
 Born
for Julius Caesar
in the month of
Quintilis (5th month old
calendar
http://itthing.com/wp-content/uploads/July.png
 Named
 1st
for Augustus
emperor of Rome
 Sextilis
(6th month old
calendar)
http://itthing.com/wp-content/uploads/august.jpg


Latin names designating
their numerical occurrence
on the ‘old’ calendar
‘Old’ calendar began in
March

Septem – seven

Octo – eight

Novem – nine

Decem – ten
http://itthing.com/wp-content/uploads/Calendar.jpg
hubpages.com

Pre 2000 BCE the only division of time was months

First to use weeks was Babylonians
• started out every 10th day
• eventually every 7th
• “market” day – trade and religious festivals

Egyptians adopted the 7-day week
karenswhimsy.com
• named the days after the five planets, sun and moon

Romans used the Egyptian names

We get our names from Anglo-Saxons
• named after their gods – roughly the same as the Romans
dailymail.co.uk
 Anglo
Saxon – Sunnandaeg
 Roman
– Dies Solis
 Anglo
Saxon - Monandaeg
 Roman
– Dies Lunae
 Anglo
Saxon – Tiwesdaeg
• Tiu’s Day
• Tyr – god of war
 Roman
– Dies Martis
everymagicalday.wordpress.com
 Angle
Saxon – Wodensdaeg
• Woden’s Day
• Odin – chief Nordic god
 Roman
– Dies Mercuri
toohuman.wikia.com
 Anglo
Saxon – Thursdaeg
• Thor’s Day
• Thor – god of thunder
 Roman
– Dies Iovis
s560.photobucket.com
 Anglo
Saxon – Frigedaeg
• Frigga’s Day
• Freya – goddess of love & beauty
 Roman
– Dies Veneris
moggies.co.uk
 Anglo
Saxon – Saterdaeg
• no god for this day
 Roman
– Dies Saturni