January: Named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions, who is depicted with two faces looking forward and backwards.

February: Derived from Februa, an early Roman festival for purification.

March: Named after Mars, the Roman god of war. March was the first month of the year in the early Roman calendar, marking the start of the military campaign season.

April: The origin is uncertain, but it may come from the Latin word “aperire,” which means “to open,” referring to the opening or blossoming of flowers and trees in spring.

May: Named after Maia, an earth goddess of growing plants.

June: Named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and the well-being of women.

July: Originally called Quintilis (the fifth month in the early Roman calendar), it was renamed in honour of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, the year of his assassination.

August: Originally called Sextilis (the sixth month in the early Roman calendar), it was renamed in honour of Emperor Augustus in 8 BC.

September: Comes from the Latin word “septem,” meaning “seven,” as it was the seventh month in the early Roman calendar.

October: Comes from the Latin word “octo,” meaning “eight,” as it was the eighth month in the early Roman calendar.

November: Comes from the Latin word “novem,” meaning “nine,” as it was the ninth month in the early Roman calendar.

December: Comes from the Latin word “decem,” meaning “ten,” as it was the tenth month in the early Roman calendar.