Names of the Months - January

Names of the Months

How the months got their names

Ever wondered why we call the months what we do?

Let's look at one of the names of the months of the year - ' JANUARY'

January

January is named after the Roman god Janus. As you can see in this print, he had two faces, so he could see the future and the past! He was also the god of doors.

Janus /ˈdʒeɪnəs/

It is also known as the god of beginnings and the endings.

Also, The ancient Greeks had no equivalent to Janus, whom the Romans claimed as distinctively their own.

Beginning of the year - January (Januarius)

On 1 January was a new year day: the day was consecrated to Janus since it was the first of the new year and of the month (kalends) of Janus.

Romans believed the beginning of anything was an omen for the whole. Thus, on that day:

• It was customary to exchange cheerful words of good wishes. 

• Everybody devoted a short time to his usual business, exchanged dates, figs and honey as a token of well wishing and made gifts of coins called strenae.

Romans believed the beginning of anything was an omen for the whole. Thus, on that day:

• Cakes made of spelt (far) and salt were offered to the god and burnt on the altar (a table). 

• There were no animal sacrifices and gods were propitiated (made peace) with offerings of spelt (a type of wheat) and pure salt.

Multiple Choice

What was the month of January named after according to Roman mythology?

• Apollo - a god of truth and prophecy

• Luna - a goddess of the Moon

• Janus - a god of the doors

• Terra - a goddess of the earth

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 How Well Do You Know This Sign?

Multiple Choice

What's the date range for this sign?

• January 21 - February 18

• December 22 - January 20

• July 23 - August 23

• March 21 - April 19

Multiple Choice

What's the ruler planet for this sign?

• Venus

• Pluto

• Neptune

• Uranus

Multiple Choice

What's the right element for this sign?

• Earth

• Fire

• Air

• Water

Multiple Choice

Aquarius is often described as...?

• Caring and giving

• Selfish

• Humanitarian (unselfish)

• Aggressive

Multiple Choice

What's the lucky number for Aquarius?

• 31

• 57

• 13

• 16