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The English word 'calendar' originates from an ancient word which described 'calculating the
period of time when interest was due on money lent', the 'calends'. Do you know which
language this comes from?
If you guessed Latin, you are correct. The calendar which is now generally in use, had its
origins in ancient Rome, but English developed its own names for the months of the year and
the days of the week.
How long is a year?
Are you aware that what we now call a ‘year’ was not always divided neatly into twelve
months?
In ancient Roman times, the 'year' began with what is now our third month, March. This was
partly because before then, it was too cold for armies to go to war. When the weather started
to become warmer, the armies were able to march to the battlefields, and the year's activities
began, so that time of year was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. (In English
'March').
At that time, there were only ten months in the year. The fifth and sixth months were called
'Quintillus', and 'Sextilus' (fifth and sixth), followed by Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec. (seventh,
eighth, ninth and tenth). However, ancient Romans were very conscious of honouring great
people, so in time the month of Quintillus was renamed 'July', after the emperor Julius.
Similarly the month of Sextilus was re-named 'August' to commemorate the emperor
Augustus.
In 1582, Pope Gregory realised that the way people were calculating their calendars was
becoming inaccurate, so he decreed that a more efficient system must be devised. During the
calendar revisions, the beginning of the year was changed to honour the god Janus, who faces
two ways, and guards entrances and exits. He was seen as ‘facing back into the old year, and
at the same time facing forward into the new year', so the name of the first month became
'January'.
An ancient sacrificial event caused maidens to be slapped with a piece of goat-skin. It was
believed that this experience would cause the young women to produce many children when
they later married. The goat-skin was called a 'februa' and this strange festival became the
name of another month, 'February'.
After March came 'April', from an ancient word meaning ‘to open,’ because this was the time
of year when (in the Northern hemisphere) the trees and buds began to open and flower.
So, the year's official starting point shifted backwards. Instead of starting in March, the year
was said to be starting two months earlier, in January. Strangely, although there were now 12
months in the year, the last four of them still kept their Latin names for 'seven', 'eight, 'nine'
and 'ten' (from Septum, Octo, Novem, Decem). By then, the months originally called 'five'
and 'six' had already been re-named), and that’s how they’ve stayed ever since!
And Now... Days of the Week
In English, the seven days of our week come from a mixture of ancient Latin, German and
Scandinavian.
Monday is named after the moon (moon day).
Tuesday and Wednesday are from the same family. Tuesday comes from the word 'Tiu', a
Scandinavian name for one of the gods of war. Tiu was related to another god known as
'Woden', also a god of war, and so we have 'Wednesday' (Woden's day).
Thursday is named for 'Thor', the god of thunder. Friday is really named after Venus, the
goddess of love, you'll find her in the French name for the day, 'vendredi', but the
Scandinavian version of Venus was a lady called 'Freya', and the English language adopted
the Scandinavian name rather than the Roman one, so we have Friday.
'Saturn' was the Roman god of seeds and harvest, Saturday is named after him.
Finally, everybody needs light and heat, so Sunday is named to commemorate the sun, the
main source of light and heat for all of us.
Everyone Has Their Day
Do you know this rhyme? It talks about the character of a child born on each of the days of
the week. Try to complete the end of each line with a word from the box. Do you know the
meaning of each line?
face - woe - living - day - grace - gay
- giving - go
Monday's child is fair of _____ ,
Tuesday's child is full of _____ ,
Wednesday's child is full of _____ ,
Thursday's child has far to _____ ,
Friday's child is loving and _____ ,
Saturday's child works hard for a _____ ,
But the child who is born on the sun's own _____ ,
Is healthy, wealthy, wise and _____ .
On which day were you born?
Do you think this rhyme is true for you?
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