Months of the Year: Complete Guide to Calendar Months
The 12 Months of the Year
The Gregorian calendar, which we use today, divides the year into 12 months. Each month has its own unique characteristics, history, and cultural significance. Let's explore each month and discover the fascinating stories behind their names and origins.
January
Days: 31
Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings, symbolizing the start of the new year.
From Latin "Ianuarius", meaning "month of Janus"
February
Days: 28
Named after Februa, a Roman purification festival held in this month.
From Latin "Februarius", meaning "month of purification"
March
Days: 31
Named after Mars, the Roman god of war, as this was when military campaigns resumed.
From Latin "Martius", meaning "month of Mars"
April
Days: 30
Derived from "aperire" meaning "to open", referring to the opening of buds and flowers in spring.
From Latin "Aprilis", meaning "to open"
May
Days: 31
Named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth and spring.
From Latin "Maius", meaning "month of Maia"
June
Days: 30
Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and the wife of Jupiter.
From Latin "Iunius", meaning "month of Juno"
July
Days: 31
Originally Quintilis (5th month), renamed in honor of Julius Caesar after his death.
From Latin "Iulius", in honor of Julius Caesar
August
Days: 31
Originally Sextilis (6th month), renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar.
From Latin "Augustus", in honor of Augustus Caesar
September
Days: 30
From the Latin word for "seven", as it was the 7th month in the original Roman calendar.
From Latin "September", meaning "seventh month"
October
Days: 31
From the Latin word for "eight", as it was the 8th month in the original Roman calendar.
From Latin "October", meaning "eighth month"
November
Days: 30
From the Latin word for "nine", as it was the 9th month in the original Roman calendar.
From Latin "November", meaning "ninth month"
December
Days: 31
From the Latin word for "ten", as it was the 10th month in the original Roman calendar.
From Latin "December", meaning "tenth month"
The History of Month Names
Most of our month names have ancient Roman origins, with some interesting stories behind how they came to be. The original Roman calendar had only 10 months, starting with March and ending with December.
Did You Know?
The months January and February were added later by King Numa Pompilius around 700 BCE. Originally, the Roman year started in March, which is why September (7th), October (8th), November (9th), and December (10th) have names that don't match their current positions!
Roman Gods and Emperors
Many months are named after Roman gods and emperors:
- January: Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and endings
- March: Named after Mars, the Roman god of war
- May: Named after Maia, the Roman goddess of growth
- June: Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage
- July: Originally Quintilis (5th month), renamed after Julius Caesar
- August: Originally Sextilis (6th month), renamed after Augustus Caesar
Calendar Systems Around the World
While the Gregorian calendar is the most widely used today, different cultures have developed their own calendar systems throughout history.
Lunar Calendars
Many traditional calendars are based on the moon's cycles, typically having 12 or 13 months.
- Islamic calendar (12 months)
- Chinese calendar (12-13 months)
- Hebrew calendar (12-13 months)
Solar Calendars
Solar calendars are based on the Earth's orbit around the Sun, like our Gregorian calendar.
- Gregorian calendar (12 months)
- Julian calendar (12 months)
- Persian calendar (12 months)
Fun Facts About Months
Seasonal Distribution
Each season has exactly 3 months: Spring (March-May), Summer (June-August), Autumn (September-November), and Winter (December-February).
Leap Year Impact
February is the only month that changes length in leap years, going from 28 days to 29 days every 4 years.
Month Length Patterns
There's a pattern: months alternate between 31 and 30 days, with February being the exception at 28 (or 29) days.
Birthstone Connection
Each month has an associated birthstone, making months important for birthdays and gift-giving traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do months have different numbers of days?
The varying lengths of months are a result of historical calendar reforms. The Roman calendar originally had months of different lengths, and when the Julian and later Gregorian calendars were introduced, they kept some of these traditional month lengths for continuity and cultural reasons.
Why is February shorter than other months?
February was originally the last month of the Roman year, and it was given fewer days to make room for the other months. When January and February were added to the beginning of the year, February retained its shorter length.
Are there exactly 12 months in every calendar system?
No, different calendar systems have different numbers of months. Most lunar calendars have 12 months, but some have 13 months in certain years to stay synchronized with the seasons. The Gregorian calendar consistently has 12 months.
How do I remember how many days are in each month?
You can use the knuckle method: make a fist and count the months on your knuckles and the spaces between them. Knuckles represent 31-day months, and spaces represent 30-day months. February is the exception with 28 (or 29) days.
Related Tools and Resources
Explore our date calculation tools to work with months and dates: