May 12 be

Monday, May 12, 2014

Marvelous Monday. 

The logical 12 things for today are the months of the year. Where did the names come from? The answer according to the Farmer's Almanac:

January:

Named for the Roman god Janus, protector of gates and doorways. Janus is depicted with two faces, one looking into the past, the other into the future.

February:

From the Latin word februa, "to cleanse." The Roman Februalia was a month of purification and atonement. 

March:

Named for the Roman god of war, Mars. This was the time of year to resume military campaigns that had been interrupted by winter.

April:

From the Latin word aperio, "to open (bud)," because plants begin to grow in this month.

May:

Named for the Roman goddess Maia, who oversaw the growth of plants. Also from the Latin word maiores, "elders," who were celebrated during this month.

June:

Named for the Roman goddess Juno, patroness of marriage and the well-being of women. Also from the Latin word juvenis, "young people."

July:

Named to honor Roman dictator, Julius Caesar (100 B.C. - 44 B.C.) In 46 B.C., Julius Caesar made one of his greatest contributions to history; with the help of Sosigenes, he developed the Julian calendar, the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today.

August:

Named to honor the first Roman emperor (and grandnephew of Julius Caesar), Agustus Caesar (63 B.C. - A.D. 14).

September:

From the Latin word septem, "seven," because this had been the seventh month of the early Roman calendar.

October:

From the Latin word octo, "eight," because this had been the eighth month of the early Roman calendar.

November:

From the Latin word novem, "nine," because this had been the ninth month of the early Roman calendar.

December:

From the Latin word decem, "ten," because this had been the tenth month of the early Roman calendar.