Days of the Week; Months of the Year

The days of the week are undisputedly named after the gods of Northern Mythology. Period. At one time, there were only ten months in the calendar year before two additional months were added for political reasons-- similar to the way we name highways and libraries after our U.S. presidents. While many of the 'gods of the month' were gods invented by the Romans with no apparent counterpart, these gods possess many of the same traits assigned to earlier Mesopotamian gods and, ultimately, correspond to specific gods of Northern Mythology from whence most of the known gods originate.

DAYS OF THE WEEK:

Sunday was named after the Sun god, Sunday.

Monday was named after the moon goddess, Munday.

Tuesday was named after the god Tyr, Tyrsday.

Wednesday was named after the god Odin, Odinsday or Wodensday.

Thursday was named after the god Thor, Thorsday.

Friday was named after the goddess Frigga, Friggsday.

Saturday was named after the god Saturn, Saturnsday.

MONTHS OF THE YEAR:

January was named for Janus, the Roman mighty one of portals and patron of beginnings and endings, to whom this month was sacred. He is shown as having two faces, one in front, the other at the back of his head, supposedly to symbolize his powers

February is derived from Februa, a Roman festival of purification. It was originally the month of expiation.

March is named for Mars, the Roman mighty one of war.

April is derived from the Latin APRILIS, indicating a time of Fertility. It was believed that this month is the month when the earth was supposed to open up for the plants to grow.

May is named for Maia, the Roman female deity of growth or increase.

June is sometimes attributed to June, the female mighty one of the marriage, the wife of Jupiter in Roman mythology. She was also called the "Queen of heaven" and " Queen of mighty ones." The name of this month is also attributed to Junius Brutus, but originally it most probably referred to the month in which crops grow to ripeness.

July is named for the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, this is the seventh month of the Gregorian year.

August is named for Octavius Augustus Caesar, emperor of Rome; the name was originally from augure, which means, "to increase."

September is derived from the Latin septem, meaning "seven."

October comes from the Latin root octo, meaning "eight."

November is derived from Latin novem, meaning "ninth."

December is derived from the Latin decem, meaning "ten."