JANUARY was so called from Janus, an old Italian king, and comes from a Latin word Januarius. February comes from februe, meaning to purify, because in that month the Romans offered sacrifices for purifying the people. March comes from Mars, the God of War. April comes from the word Aprilus, which means opening, because then the world buds and blossoms forth. May, from Majores, so called by Romulus, in respect to the Senators. June, from the Latin, Junius, or the younger sort of the people. July, from Julius CÆsar. August, called from Augustus. September, from the Latin, septem, meaning seven, being the seventh month from March. October, from Latin, octo, eight; November, from novem, nine, the ninth month from March. December, from the Latin, decem, ten, being the tenth month from March, which was formerly the manner of beginning the year.