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What are the Months of the Year?
Have you ever wondered what life would be if you didn’t know the order of months? How can you be able to plan your events and occasions? This idea is quite disturbing. According to the calendar, the months in order are January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December.
Thankfully, Julius Caesar arranged the months in order. The astronomers who worked under him suggested that there should be twelve months in the year.
They arranged the months according to the seasons. We derived the names of months from Greek and Roman deities. Before moving towards the order of months, we will discuss the origin of months.
In ancient times the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Greeks divided the months into a year using the lunar cycle. However, this concept was proven wrong. There was no link between the lunar cycle and the solar year, which created challenges for the lunar calendar.
The calendar we are using nowadays is based on solar cycles. The calendar adopts the phenomenon that the earth rotates around the sun and completes its rotation in 365.25 days. Julian calendar and gregorian calendars are constructed on solar cycles.
The Gregorian calendar followed nowadays was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII. It is the refined form of the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar develops leap year rules that align with the solar year. Gregorian calendar arranges months so that the year begins in January and ends in December.
But do you know why January comes first? And December is chosen to be the last month of the year? i am sure, your answer will be “No.” The fusion of history, culture, and religious factors influences the order of months. After the brief history in this article, you will be able to explore the fascinating facts behind the months in order. So, be ready to learn:
January
January is arranged in a manner that comes first. The name January is derived from the name of the Roman god Janus. Who was able to look forward and backward with his two faces. So, January comes first because it symbolizes a fresh start—forgetting the past and looking into the future.
February
February holds a special place when discussing the months in order. It is the shortest month, with only 28 (or 29 during the leap year) days. The name comes from the Latin word februarius derived from februa, a purification and cleansing festival celebrated by the Romans.
March
The Roman god of war, Mars, symbolizes change and transition. The name of March is derived from its name. During March, the weather changes. It is transitioned from winter to spring.
April
The name April is derived from the Latin word Aperire which means to open. The April rain showers help flowers to bloom. April is famous for April fool’s Day. April is the fourth month in order.
May
May is the beginning of warm weather. The name is derived from the name of the Roman goddess Maia. May is considered the month of growth, renewal, and the arrival of the spring season.
June
June is the fifth month in order. It is officially the beginning of summer. Its name is derived from the name of the Roman god Juno. June marks the midpoint of the calendar.
July
July is named after Julius Caesar. The people of countries once a part of the United Kingdom consider it the month of independence.
August
Initially, this month was called Sextilis, but then it was retitled as a tribute to the Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar. It is a time of relaxation and vacations. It is considered the last month of hot weather.
September
The name September comes from the word septem, which means seven. However, it is the ninth month in order. But, before the addition of January and February, it was the seventh month in the calendar. September marks the beginning of harvest season in the agricultural regions.
October
October comes from octa, which means eight. Although, it is now the tenth month of the calendar. October comes with some spooky fun of Halloween. In the northern regions, October is considered the month of transition from autumn to winter.
November
November is the month of thanksgiving for the American people. The families celebrate the time of get-togethers and fun. The Movember movement, which raises awareness about men’s health issues, is also held in November. November comes from novem, which means nine.
December
December is the last month. Before 45 B.C December was considered the tenth and last month. The name December comes from the word decem, which means tenth. But, after Julius proposed the addition of two more months to the calendar, it became twelve months. December is famous for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.
List of Months in Order
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
Months Short Form
- Jan
- Feb
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Months Table
| Month Number | Month | Days in Month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January | 31 |
| 2 | February | 28 (29 in leap years) |
| 3 | March | 31 |
| 4 | April | 30 |
| 5 | May | 31 |
| 6 | June | 30 |
| 7 | July | 31 |
| 8 | August | 31 |
| 9 | September | 30 |
| 10 | October | 31 |
| 11 | November | 30 |
| 12 | December | 31 |
Video of Month of the Year in Order
In a Nutshell
As discussed above, the twelve months are placed in a calendar so that every month synchronizes with the season. The world is using the Gregorian calendar, but you cannot deny the fact that some other calendars also exist at this time. The Hindu calendar, known initially as Vikram Samvat, and Hebrew calendars are examples of different calendars. The Hindu calendar is unique because the length of months differs from the Gregorian calendar.
The Hebrew calendar follows the lunisolar phenomenon. The calendar is completed by adding an extra month to align the lunar month with the solar year. The uniqueness of calendars other than Gregorian is based upon different cultural and religious facts. But have you ever wondered how ancient people distinguished between months when there was no calendar? Share your thoughts about this.
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