languages, including English, use month names based on Latin. Their meaning is listed below. However, some languages (Czech and Polish, for example) use quite different names.

Month Latin Origin January Januarius Named after the god Janus. February Februarius Named after Februa, the purification festival. March Martius Named after the god Mars. April Aprilis Named either after the goddess Aphrodite or the Latin word aperire, to open. May Maius Probably named after the goddess Maia. June Junius Probably named after the goddess Juno. July Julius Named after Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E. Prior to that time its name was Quintilis from the word quintus, fifth, because it was the 5th month in the old Roman calendar. August Augustus Named after emperor Augustus in 8 B.C.E. Prior to that time thename was Sextilis from the word sextus, sixth, because it was the 6th month in the old Roman calendar. September September From the word septem, seven, because it was the 7th month in the old Roman calendar. October October From the word octo, eight, because it was the 8th month in the old Roman calendar. November November From the word novem, nine, because it was the 9th month in the old Roman calendar. December December From the word decem, ten, because it was the 10th month in the old Roman calendar.

Was Jesus born in the year 0? No. There are two reasons for this: There is no year 0. Jesus was born before 4 B.C.E. The concept of a year "zero" is a modern myth (but a very