Monday, January 5, 2026

What god is January named after?

The names for the months of the year have a long historical legacy behind them.
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How did January get its name?

The names for the months of the year have a long historical legacy behind them. January has roots in new beginnings.

Wooden block object with January written

T he legacy of the ancient Romans is impossible to deny, as they gave us so much that we continue to rely upon today: bridges, roads and even toga parties. The Romans are also whom we can thank for naming every month of the year, as we still use their names over 2,000 years later. Let's start with January, the very first month of the year. January is named after Janus, the Roman god of new beginnings, whose own name is based on the Latin word for "doorway." This is quite appropriate considering that so many folks use the new year as a time to open the door on a new chapter in life.

Now let's look at the second month of the year. At first glance, you may assume that February was also named after a god — specifically Februus, the ancient Roman god of purifications. However, it's not that simple. Both the month and the god were actually named after Februa, a purification festival that occurred around that time of year. This festival took its name from the Latin word februum, meaning "purification."

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Phoenix Emoji

Phoenix

Meaning: Phoenix folklore is representative of "rising from the ashes" and indicates a message of rebirth or renewal.


Evolution: Phoenix folklore is representative of "rising from the ashes" and indicates a message of rebirth or renewal.


Usage: [Caption on a video of getting keys to a new house:] 🐦‍πŸ”₯It's been a long road, but I'm ready for this fresh start 🐦‍πŸ”₯

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

The Storm

After a hurricane hit the small (fictional) Alabama beach town of St. Medard's Bay in 1984, the governor's handsome son was found dead. The question of whether he was killed by the storm or by his mistress fueled the tabloid frenzy that followed. Forty years later, the accused and acquitted woman returns to the beachfront motel where it happened, bringing a writing partner to help tell her side of the story. As they look for answers, more old secrets surface.

Samantha Abernethy, Word Smarts Writer

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21 SAT Words That Come Up in Everyday Life

Brush up on your vocab with SAT classics that you'll actually see in real life. This refresher shows how once-daunting test prep words sneak into slang, food labels, and the daily news.

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