December: Named for Ten, Now Month Twelve

Why in the news?

December’s name originates from decem (Latin for ten) due to its position in the ancient Roman calendar. Calendar reforms shifted its order, showcasing historical evolution from lunar to solar systems.

December: Named for Ten, Now Month Twelve

Historical Roots of the Name:

  • December, the 12th month of the Gregorian calendar, derives its name from the Latin word decem (ten).
  • Originally, the Roman calendar (738 BCE) designed by Romulus had only 10 months.
  • The final six months—Quintilis to December—were named after numbers 5 to 10 in Latin.

Roman Calendar Evolution

  • The early Roman calendar consisted of 304 days, leaving 61 winter days unnamed and unaccounted for.
  • In 713 BCE, Numa Pompilius added January and February, aligning the calendar closer to the lunar cycle.
  • These months were appended to the end of the year, still starting the calendar in March.
  • In 153 BCE, the New Year shifted to January, making December the 12th month, creating an etymological mismatch.

Transition to Solar Calendars

  • Romans initially used a lunar year but added months periodically to sync with the solar year.
  • Julius Caesar, in 46 BCE, introduced the Julian calendar with 365 days, aligning with Earth’s revolution around the Sun.
  • The Gregorian reform of 1582, led by Pope Gregory XIII, corrected minor miscalculations, giving us the modern calendar system.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times