The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-05-29
Names of the Months.

Inc l4atln name OF january, JanuarluS,
is derived from Janus, a heather god,
worshiped by the Romans on New
Years Day. The idol had two faces
one youthful, looking forward with hope
the other old and ugly, looking back with
regret. In ancient times, in England,
this season was called wolf month, it
being the time when the wolves were
fiercest.
In the second month the Romans held
a feast called Februalia, when they sacri-
feed to their idols in the hope that their
sins for the whole year would be forgiven.
The month was, therefore, called Februa,
or February. The Saxons called it Sol
monath, or pancake month, and during
this month cakes baked in pan were
offered to Sol, the sun.
March comes from the Latin Martius,
name given by the Romans in honor of
Mars, the god of war. The early inhabi-
tants of Britain named it Hlyd monath,
the loud month, because of its stormy
winds. 1t was also called the spring
month, as the spring quarter commenced
in this division of the year.
April comes from the Latin Aperire,
to open, because at this season the buds
of trees and flowers begin to expand.
The Romans called this month Aprilis !;
our Saxon forefathers gave it the name
OF Foster, or oster month, in honor of
their goddess Eostre. Ut corresponds to
the Jewish month liar, OF Zif.)
The name given to May is from the
Latin Maius. The Saxons called it Tri-
milki monath, OF three milk month, be-
cause at this season cows were MIXED
thrice day. In ancient times May
games were held in honor of Flora, called
by the heather Romans the goddess of
flowers.
June was so named from Juno, one of
the tabled goddesses of the heather. It
was called by our forefathers in Britain
Weyd monath, or meadow month, when
the cattle did weyd, or feed in the
meadows: also Sere monath, or the dry
month.
The name Julius was given to this
month by Mark Antony, in honor of
Julius Caesar, who was born at that time.
The Saxons called it Aefteralitha monath,
or latter mild month; also Moed monath,
the meadows being all in bloom. St.
Swithin's Day is on the 10th of this
month.
August received its name in honor of
the Roman emperor Augustus 1t was
called Arm monath or barn month, by
the Saxons, as it was the season for stor-
ing the harvest. The rainfall in August
is usually about half that of July. The
atmosphere also is generally purer, and
the nights are much clearer.
September is now the ninth, but was
in ancient times the seventh, hence the
name, derived from the Latin word
Septem, OF Seven" Our Saxon fore
fathers called 1t Girls monatll, or barley
month, as barley was the chief grain
sown by them, and they harvested it
about this month. The autumnal equi-
nox occurs during this month.
October derives its name from the
Latin Octo, which signifies eight" be-
cause it was the eighth month in the
Roman year, though the tenth with us.
The Saxons called it winter tyllith, or
"winter beginning" 1t is often known
to us as the fall of the leaf
November is named from the Latin
Novem, or mine, as it was the ninth
month among the Romans. The ancient
Britons called it Wind monath, and also
Blot monath, OF @blood MONTH" on ac-
count of the number of cattle killed at
this time, both for winter store and sac
rifces to their idols.
The month of December derives its
name from the Latin word Decem, OF
sten," as in the Roman year it was the
tenth month. By the Saxons it was
called the Haligh monath, or "holy
month, from Christmas Day falling
within it. ("