January (in Latin,
Ianuarius) is named after
Janus, the god of beginnings and transitions in ancient
Roman religion and
mythology. Traditionally, the original
Roman calendar consisted of 10 months totaling 304 days, winter being considered a month-less period. Around 713 BC, the semi-mythical successor of
Romulus, King
Numa Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January and
February, so that the calendar covered a standard lunar year (354 days). Although
March was originally the first month in the old Roman calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the
Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers differ). By contrast, each specific calendar year was identified by the names of the two
consuls, who entered office on March 15th until 153 BC, at which point they started entering office on January 1st. Various Christian feast dates were used for the
New Year in
Europe during the
Middle Ages, including March 25 (
Feast of the Annunciation) and December 25. However, medieval calendars were still displayed in the Roman fashion with twelve columns from January to December. Beginning in the 16th century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again According to
Theodor Mommsen, 1 January became the first day of the year in 600
AUC of the Roman calendar (153 BC), due to disasters in the
Lusitanian War. A Lusitanian chief called Punicus invaded the Roman territory, defeated two Roman governors, and killed their troops. The Romans resolved to send a consul to
Hispania, and in order to accelerate the dispatch of aid, "they even made the new consuls enter into office two months and a half before the legal time" (March 15). == Symbols ==