The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-05-13
ORIGIN OF THE NAMES OF THE MONTHS AND
DAYS OF THE WEEK,

who was attcrward dc,fleu and temple
built TO his honor in Rome. This temple
was kept open in time OF war, and closed
in time Of peace. 1t was shut but twice
during period of moro than seven hun
drcd yeas. Janus was painted with two
faces, one looking toward the new year, and
the other toward tho old.
The name of the second month, February
was derived from Fehru, Or Fcbrua, feast
held therein, in behalf of tho mancs, or
memory Of the dead, when sacrifices were
offered, and other ,ites performed, by the
priests of the heathcn god, Pan. Some
say that these ceremonies were for the
cleansing or purgation Of the people.
1t is said that Romuius, tho founder OF
the Roman empire, gave the name of March
10 tho month which answers to our third,
in honor Of Mars, his pretended father, Il
deity whom they believed to preside over
the destinics of war. lie is described as
drawn in chariot drawn by furious horses,
holding in one hand Il spear, and i'll the
other sword imbuct in blood.
Romulus also named our fourth month,
April, ii is said, from -dphros, the Greek
appeation Of Venus, one of the most cclc-
brated goddesscs Of the Ancients. She was
the wife of Vulcan, the "Lame Lem
hian."
Tie fifth month, May, is believed to have
been named from Maia, the Mother Of Mer-
curry, deity to whom the Romans offered
aacrfccs on the first day Of it. Some think
it was named in honor Of the senators and
noblest of Rome.
The sixth month, June, is said to take
its name from Juno, the sister and ac!tt OF
Jupiter, though some think it comes from
Junius, being considered favorable to the
young.
Julius Caesar gave the name Of July to
the seventh month, in honor Of himself 1t
lad before been called Quintlus, or the
Fifth.
In like manner, the naTie of August
was given to our eighth month, i'll honor
of Augustus Cesar. 1t WAS previously
called Sextilus, or the Sixth.
The names Of September, October, No
vembcr and December, were originally given
to the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth
months, from the Latin numbers Scptcn
Octo., etc; but when, in 1852, the year
was made to begin with january" instead
of March," these months were thrown
forward in the Calendar, so that September,
from septens (scven) is now not the scvcnth'
but the ninth month, and so with the other
three.
Days of the Week.-Thc names Ly whicl,
these are commonly desi signatcd, originated
with the Saxons, about the Fifth cen
tury:
The first day ofl1thc week they named
Sunday, in honor Of an idol Dedicated to
the Sun, and worshipcd on that day.
Secondary they called Monday, in honor
of an idol dedicated to the Moon, which
they worshippcd on this day.
Third-day they named Tuesday, from
Tuesco, or Thu, another of their idols, par
ticularly worshipped on this day.
Fourth.day they named "Wednesday
afterward corrupted to Wednesday, from
Wooden, another Of their dc.ics.
"Thursday, the fifth day Of the week
isl derived from Thor, deticd hero wor
shipped by the ancient inhabitants Of th'
Northern nations [of Europe,] particular,
the Scandinavians and Celts." Putaum'
Eneyclop.
TO Sixth.day the Saxons gave the nam,
of Friday, from Friga, the rcputed rife O
Thor, to whom, on this day, they paid thei
devotions.
The seventh and last day in the wccl
they named Saturday, in honor, of thci
idol, Saturn, or Scatter, to whom they pait
their devotions on this day.
1t is said that in The Museum Of Bcrlir
are the representations of these ancient idols
and brief description Of them may not b,
out of place here. The one dedicated [,
the Sun is represented with a face like tha
lun'inary, burning wheel, and both hand
on his breast, signi(ying his course roun,
the world. The idol of the moon is hab
tied in shott coat, like man, and hold
the moon in his hands. Tuisco, being on,
of the most ancient gods Of the Germans
is represented by his garments of skins, ac
cording to their peculiar manner of cloth
ing. Thor is seated on bed with twelv
stars overhead, holding hammer in lii
left hand. Friga is represented with
drawn sword in one hand, and bow il
the other. Scatter has the appearance 0
perfect wretchedness. lie is thin.visagcd
long-haired, and has long beard. II,
carries pail Of water in one hand, wherein
are fruit and flowers.
With regard to the days of the week