Far from being a “dead” language, Latin is alive and well — embedded in so many others, including English. Case in point: The calendar.

A hodgepodge of tributes to deities, rulers and, simply, numbers, our calendar months are another modern relic from that fascinating source of modern civilization, Ancient Rome. As far as we know, the Roman calendar was invented by their first king, Romulus, around 735 B.C.E.

Fun fact: The Roman calendar had 12 months but at first they only bothered to name 10. Winter (around January and February) was a “dead” month when government and military weren’t active, so their year began when the military was active again in March.

As in Mars, the Roman god of war.

According to Almanac.com, some of the other months’ original numeric names were replaced over the centuries. Take July, originally Quintilis (fifth) but renamed for Julius Caesar.

January. Named for the Roman god Janus, Janus has two faces, one looking into the past, the other facing the future — perfect to mark the modern new year.

In ancient Rome the gates of Janus’s temple were open in wartime and closed in times of peace.

February. From the Latin februa, “to cleanse.” The Roman month of Februarius was named for Februalia, a festival of purification and atonement.

March. Mars was the Roman god of war (and still how March is spelled in French and Scandinavian languages). In addition to military campaigns, March was also a big festival month.

April. From the Latin aperio, “to open,” apropos of new plant growth and spring’s renewal.

May. Named for the Roman spring goddess Maia. Also possibly from the Latin maiores, or “elders,” who were celebrated during April.

June. Named for the goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and women’s well-being. Also connected to Latin’s juvenis, “young people.”

July. Posthumous honor for Rome’s dictator and nominal credit for the “Julian” calendar, Julius Caesar. In truth historians say Caesar had a lot of help from Greek astronomer Sosigenes,

August. Named to honor Caesar’s grandnephew, Emperor Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.E to C.E. 14). In Latin augustus means venerable, noble, or majestic.

September, October, November, & December. Still unimaginatively numerical, septem is Latin for seven, octo is eight, novem is nine, and decem is 10. Remember March started the calendar and the count.

Fun fact: In old England, October was called Winmonath, which means “wine month.” As a Coeur d’Alene Cellars crush volunteer of many years, I can attest that grapes are still harvested in autumn.

Another old English name was Winterfylleth (winter full moon), which they considered winter’s kickoff. Reminds me of the weather adage, “October heavy frosts and winds, then will January and February be mild.” We had snow in October and cold and snow this month, so guess that saying doesn’t always apply.

Weekdays. After the Babylonians named them after planets (Tuesday through Saturday), the sun (Sunday) and moon (Monday), they were modified by ancient Romans and Anglo-Saxons, who renamed them for their gods.

Tuesday (Tiu, Tiw, or Tyr, Norse god of war). Tyr was a son of the god Odin, or Woden, Wednesday’s namesake. Thursday is for Thor, god of thunder. Friday derives from Odin’s wife Frigga, for love and beauty. Saturday remains Roman for Saturn, god of agriculture, plenty, and a lot of feasting.

Next time: State name origins. We’re on a roll.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network with an obsession for etymology. Contact her at Sholeh@cdapress.com.