The Germanic calendars were the regional calendars used amongst the Germanic peoples, with origins prior to the adoption of the Julian and later the Gregorian calendar.[1]
The months were probably lunar; the Old English "mónaþ", Old Norse "mánaðr, and Old High German "mánód",[2] as well as the modern English "month", modern Icelandic "mánuður", modern Norwegian "måned", modern Swedish "månad", modern Dutch "maand", and the German "Monat",[2] are all cognate with the word "moon".
The Germanic peoples had their own names for the months which varied by region and dialect, which were later replaced with local adaptations of the Roman month names. However, Germanic languages have largely kept the old Germanic names for the days of the week, most of which are named after Germanic gods.
Our main source of reference for Old English month names comes from the Venerable Bede (ca.672 - 735). He recorded the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon month names in his Latin work known as De temporum ratione (De mensibus Anglorum).[3]
Charlemagne (ca.742 or 747 - 814) modified the established Julian Calendar to use the agricultural Old High German names of the months in areas under his influence. (See Julian Calendar:Month names for other examples.) They were used until the 15th century, and with some modifications until the late 18th century in Germany and in the Netherlands, broadly speaking. Some of these more recent German month names are given in the table below.
Month names
| Modern English | Old English | Old Norse | Old High German (and the New High German equivalent) | Poetic German / Carolingian |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Æftera Jéola (After Yule) or Jiuli | Mörsugur (a man who eats Suet) or Jól (Yule) (the first half of the month) and Þorri (Thor) (the latter half) | Harti-mánód (New High German: Härte monat, English: Month of Severe Frost) | Hartung (Severeness), Eis-mond (Ice Month), or Schnee-mond (Snow Month) |
| February | Sol-mónaþ (Sol Month) or Fillibrook (Brook-Filling) | Þorri and Gói (Possibly Winter); Kyndilsmessa (candle/kindle-mass) | Hornung (Hornung, Horning, the shedding of antlers) | Hornung (Horning)[1]) |
| March | Hréð-mónaþ (Month of the Goddess Hréð or Month of Wildness [2]) | Gói and Ein-mánuðr | Lenzin-mánód (Lenz monat, Spring Month) | Lenzing(Springing) or Lenz-mond (Springtime Month) |
| April | Eostur-mónaþ("Easter Month", "Spring month") (see also: Goddess Eostre) | Ein-mánuðr and Harpa | Óstar-mánód (Oster monat) ("Ostern(Easter) Month", see also Oster) | Oster-mond (see also: Goddess Eostre) |
| May | Þrimilki-mónaþ (Month of Three Milkings) | Harpa and Skerpla | Drímilki [4] (no common NHG equivalent), Winni-mánód (Wonne monat) | Wonne-mond (Graze Month [later interpretation: Blissfulness Month]) |
| June | Ærra Líða (Before Midsummer) | Skerpla and Sól-mánuðr (Sol month) | Bráh-mánód (Brach monat) | Brachet or Brach-mond (Fallow Month) |
| (None; leap month) | Þrilíða (Third Midsummer) | (none) | (none) | (none) |
| July | Æftera Líða (After Midsummer) | Sól-mánuðr and Heyannir (Sol's month, Haying) | Hewi-mánód or Hou-mánód (both Heu monat, hay month) | Heuert or Heu-mond (Hay Month) |
| August | Weod-mónaþ (Plant month) | Heyannir (Hay month)and Tvímánuðr (Double month) | Aran-mánód (Ernte monat, Month of Harvest) | Ernting or Ernte-mond (Harvesting, Crop Month / Harvest Month) |
| September | Hálig-mónaþ (Holy Month) or Hærfest-mónaþ (Harvest Month) | Tví-mánuðr and Haust-mánuðr (Harvest/autumn month) | Witu-mánód (Holz monat, Month of Wood); or Herbist-mānōd (Leaves month, Herbst monat, Month of Harvest) | Scheiding (Separating) or Herbst-mond (Autumn Month) |
| October | Winterfylleþ (Winterfilled) or Rujern (Rye harvest) | Haust-manuðr and Gor-mánuðr | Windume-mánód (Weinlese monat, Month of Vintage) | Gilbhart / Gilbhard (Forest Yellowing, ) or Wein-mond (Wine Month) |
| November | Blót-mónaþ (Blót Month) | Gor-mánuðr and Frer-mánuðr (Frost month) | Wintar-mánód (Winter monat) | Nebelung (Fogging) or Nebel-mond (Fog Month) or Winter-mond (Winter Month) |
| December | Ærra Jéola (Before Yule) or Jiuli (Yule) | Frer-mánuðr and Morsugr or Jól (Yule month) | (Jul monat) | Jul-mond (Yule Month) or Heil-mond (Holy Month) or Christ-mond (Christ Month) |
Notes
- ^ E.g., the Anglo-Saxon calendar used in pre-Christian England described by Beda Venerabilis in the reference below.
- ^ a b http://www.koeblergerhard.de/germanistischewoerterbuecher/althochdeutscheswoerterbuch/ahdM.pdf
- ^ Beda Venerabilis, De Temporum Ratione, Chapter 15, "De mensibus Anglorum"
- ^ http://www.koeblergerhard.de/germanistischewoerterbuecher/althochdeutscheswoerterbuch/ahdD.pdf
External links
- (German) Old High German dictionary, including month names
- Northvegr article on dating
- Facts and Figures: The Norse Way General information on old Germanic culture, including time.
- (German) Old High German dictionary, including month names
- (German) Old Norse dictionary, including month names
- (German) Old English dictionary, including month names
- Anglo-Saxon month names
- The Anglo-Saxon Calendar
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