What months of the year, you know?Perhaps this question can answer even an ordinary high school student, and, most likely, he would call them immediately in multiple languages, such as Russian, English and German.And wonder if you'll ever about why these years are the most important components is such names?
Section 1. The urgency of the issue
Months of the year ... It would seem that could be easier: January, February, March, and so on. D. Within seconds they can easily be listed as in forward and in reverse.
Recently, however, more and more people are interested in the etymology of words.Why is that?First of all, due to the fact that such knowledge helps to better trace the history and culture as a single area, and the whole country or nationality.But owning such knowledge is not only fashionable, but also very promising, because through the past, as you know, is almost always possible to predict further developments in relation to the future.
try to solve the mystery and find out how the ancient Slavic names managed to enter into the modern language and to gain a foothold in it, as they say, for centuries.
Section 2. The struggle between two calendars
In general, according to scientists, the list of months of the year came to us from ancient Rome.It was in that great country, local sages developed a solar calendar, which consisted of the names that have been directly linked to the Roman gods, emperors and ordinary numbers.It is as a result and was taken as a basis.
In general, there are different versions of how and why the Roman calendar largely supplanted the ancient Slavic, but most of them are also religious.
believed that the Orthodox Church has so diligently sought to eradicate yazychnichestvo, in the end it affected even the calendar.Since that time Russia had a close relationship with Byzantium, then just come to our yard Roman calendar.
In our modern preserve the essence of the Roman calendar, which consisted of 12 months, the only difference, however, concerns the beginning of the year.
season were the same as now, and they were placed in the same sequence, refer to the same time of year.But some changes have taken place, although they should not be considered fundamental.The fact that the Romans originally was the first of the year in March.
Section 3 winter months
December for the Romans considered a "tenth," but the ancient Slavs called it jelly.In principle, it is clear why: As a rule, this month became cold or studio, frozen river, and move due to low temperatures and heavy rainfall is almost impossible.Local residents were held hostage in their own homes, and trade and the war virtually stopped.
How many months of the year, even a child knows, and even a baby is able to remember the first.Why is that?Due to the celebration of the New Year, of course.
January began in January after the two-faced god Janus, which is considered the God of all undertakings and connects the past and the future.He was also the keeper of the inputs and outputs in various areas and in the afterlife.By the way, Janus is known as the patron saint of travelers and brave guardian of roads, its revered Italic sailors, who believed that it was he who taught the people to create the first ships.
general in ancient Slavic calendar January called "the Section".The word comes from the verb "to whip", meaning to chop wood.As a rule, all the blanks for the construction and preparation of acreage held in winter.It was in January and the third name - "prosinets", which means "the appearance of a blue sky after a very prolonged cloud cover."
February comes from the Latin word Februa, signifying literally "feast of purification."It was in this month conducted a purification ceremony and to atone for sins.There is a version that the name of the month associated with the god of the underworld named Februus.
In ancient Slavic version sounds like a bitter February, the month of frosts and snowstorms.
Section 4. The spring months of the year
March was so named in honor of Mars - god of war.This deity highly revered Romans, and as with the warm spring days are usually planned military campaigns, there was this name.
in Old Slavonic March calendar called "berezen."Name logically understandable, because in this time burned trees felled in the winter coal, they were mostly birch.According to some versions of March also called "Sukhiy" because it was time for drying of the land of snow.
History of the name goes back to the month of April the Latin word Aprilis.As far as is known, in translation it means "disclosure".This is understandable, because it is in this time revealed the buds on the trees.But there is a way, and an alternate version of the origin of the name of another Latin word apricus, which means warmed by the sun.The truth is, you see, the essence of this almost unchanged.
Our ancestors called in April for at least a beautiful name, "pollen", as it was last month, when everything was in bloom.
May was named after the goddess of the spring named Maya.By the way, the Romans equated this goddess with the Italic goddess Mayesta, is the patroness of fertile land.Often in May this goddess brought sacrifices.
According to the Old Slavonic calendar, may be referred to as "Traven » , which is the month of active growth of grasses.
Section 5. "Summer, ah, summer ...»
June was named in honor of the goddess Juno, who was the wife of Jupiter.She was considered the patroness of women.But there is a second opinion, if this name is connected with the first consul of ancient Rome by the name of Junius Brutus.
Calendar of our ancestors called this month "Cherven".The name comes from the word worm.It's simple: this month collecting insects in their gardens and orchards.In addition, in the southern regions is June - the time cherry redness.
July, most likely named after the famous Julius Caesar, in principle, it was he who started the whole reform of the calendar.Earlier this month called "Kvintilis" or "fifth".
ancient Slavs called the month "Lipen » , as it is currently blooming linden.
August called in honor of the Emperor Augustus, it was he who introduced its own amendments to the Roman calendar.Up to this point a month called "Sekstilis" or "six".
Section 6. September, October, November - it's time to fall withering
With these months, the situation is very simple.The Romans did not invent them new names, they simply correspond to their number in order.Although, to give any registered title previously tried several times.Indeed, many emperors wanted to immortalize their names on the calendar.Such
months of the year as September, October, November, respectively, represent Latin ordinal numbers: the seventh, eighth, ninth.
Ancient Slavs called in September by "veresen" because it was the month of the height of the flowering heather.October was the name of the leaf, as this was the time of yellowing and defoliation.November is called "Gruden » because the frozen ruts in the road.
