The Romans were responsible for many things that we take for granted today.

Roads, sewers and viaducts to name but a small few. The Romans also gave us something else that is used every day ( literally ) of our lives....The days of the week and the months of the year.

The Months of the Year.

The Months of the year  actually followed the agricultural cycle in Roman times even if they were not always named after them.

The first month of the Roman year was :

March : derives from 'Martius' dedicated to Mars which was seen as the protector of agriculture.

April : derives from 'Aphrodite' another Roman Goddess of love next to Venus.

May : derives from 'Maius'  the Roman Goddess of the Spring.

June : derives from 'Junius' the Roman Goddess of Heaven.

July : derives from Julius Caesar who's ego knew no bounds, so to name a month after himself was in line with his personality.

August : derives from Augustus Caesar who had a similar ego to Julius and thought of himself Godly enough to name a month after himself.

September : derives from the number seven called 'Septem' as it was the seventh month in the Roman Calendar.

October : derives from 'Octo' meaning eighth month of the year.

November : derives from 'Novem' meaning ninth month of the year.

December : derives from 'Decem' meaning tenth month of the year.

January : derives from 'Janus' the Roman god of beginnings. Became the first month of the year to follow its namesake after deliberation in the senate !

February : derives from 'Februa' the Roman festival which fell at this period in time within the calendar.

The Days of the Week.

Sunday : derives from 'Dies Solis' day of the Sun.

Monday : derives from 'Lunae Dies' day of the Moon, literally  Moonday.

Tuesday : derives from 'Martis Dies' day of war, whereas 'Tiu' was the worshipped god of war over Mars.

Wednesday : derives from 'Mercurii Dies' ( Mercury Day ) or more accepted the day of Woden who was swift like Mercury hence Wodens day.

Thursday : derives from 'Thor' the God of thunder. Thors day.

Friday : derives from 'Frig' the Goddess of Marriage who got her name from Venus the Goddess of love as an equivalent 'Veneris Dies' Venus day. So Frigsday ( frigs pronounced frys)  gives us Friday.

Saturday : derives from 'Saturni Dies' Saturns day.