answersLogoWhite

0

What the origion of January?

User Avatar

Anonymous

14y ago
Updated: 8/19/2019

January is named after Janus (Ianuarius) the dual faced Roman god who looks both behind & ahead (Janus faced to mean hypocrite).

Janus is the god of doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latinword for door (ianua) -- January is the door to the year. January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers differ). Traditionally, the original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totalling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BC, the semi-mythical successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January and February, allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year (355 days)

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

What else can I help you with?