Roman Calendar Months Origins: Why September Actually Means Seven

You're living your life by a schedule designed over 2,500 years ago. Ever wondered why our 12-month year has a month named 'September' which literally translates to 'the seventh month'? The answer lies in the messy, politically charged history of the Roman Republic.

Roman Calendar Months Origins: From 10 to 12 Months

Ancient Roman legend suggests that Romulus, the city's founder, established a 10-month calendar around 738 BCE. This early system ignored the 61 days of winter, as they didn't correspond to the harvest or military seasons. It wasn't until the reign of Numa Pompilius that January and February were added to the mix.

January was named after Janus, the god of gates and transitions, fitting for the year's beginning. February derived from Februalia, a festival of purification. Interestingly, the year originally started in March (named after Mars), making July the fifth month—hence its original name, Quintilis.

The Imperial Ego: July and August

The names we use today weren't just about gods; they were about power. Around 44 BCE, the Roman Senate renamed Quintilis to Julius (July) to honor Julius Caesar. A few decades later, in 8 BCE, Sextilis became Augustus (August) to celebrate Emperor Augustus.

This renaming left the remaining months—September, October, November, and December—in a mathematical limbo. Even though they are now the 9th through 12th months, their names still mean 7, 8, 9, and 10 in Latin. It's a linguistic glitch that has survived for millennia.