How were the number of days assigned to each month?

The division of a year into months is a practice that dates back to ancient times. However, determining the length of each month and the number of days it should contain has been a matter of much debate and revision over the years. The current system we use, which consists of twelve months with varying lengths, was established by the Roman Empire and has been in use for over two thousand years.

The earliest known calendar was developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia over 5,000 years ago. Their calendar consisted of 12 lunar months, each containing 29 or 30 days, for a total of 354 days in a year. However, this calendar was not accurate enough as it did not account for the extra 11 days that the Earth takes to complete its orbit around the Sun.

Later, the Egyptians developed a more accurate solar calendar which contained 12 months, each with 30 days, and an additional five days at the end of the year. However, this too was not accurate enough as it did not take into account the extra quarter of a day that the Earth takes to complete its orbit around the Sun.

The ancient Romans were the first to develop a calendar system that took into account the extra quarter of a day. They created a system that consisted of twelve months, with a total of 355 days in a year. To account for the remaining days, they added a leap month of 22 or 23 days every two years. This system was used for several centuries but was later deemed to be too complicated.

In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar implemented a new system, known as the Julian calendar, which consisted of twelve months, with a total of 365 days in a year. To account for the extra quarter of a day, an additional day was added to the month of February every four years. This system was in use for over 1,500 years but was eventually found to be flawed as it overestimated the length of a year by approximately 11 minutes.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a new calendar system, known as the Gregorian calendar, which is the system we use today. The Gregorian calendar still consists of twelve months, but the length of each month varies. The month of February contains either 28 or 29 days, depending on whether it is a leap year or not. Leap years occur every four years, except for years that are divisible by 100 but not by 400.

Describing month-wise:

The number of days in each month was established by the Roman Empire, and the logic behind it is a mix of historical, cultural, and practical reasons. Here is a brief explanation of why each month has the current number of days:

• January

  January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings and transitions. It has 31 days, which makes it the longest month, as it was believed that the month of January should be given the highest honor since it marks the beginning of the year.

• February

  February has 28 days in a common year and 29 days in a leap year. It was originally the last month of the Roman calendar and was considered an unlucky month. The length of February was set at 28 days, which was believed to be a sufficient length for a month that was not important. The extra day was added every four years to account for the discrepancy between the calendar year and the solar year.

• March

  March was named after Mars, the Roman god of war. It has 31 days, which was believed to be a reflection of the military importance of the month. March was also the first month of the year in the Roman calendar.

• April

  April's name comes from the Latin word "aperire," which means "to open," as it marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It has 30 days, which may be because it was considered a transition month between the harsh winter and the warmer spring.

• May

  May was named after Maia, the Roman goddess of fertility. It has 31 days, which was believed to be a reflection of the importance of the month in terms of agriculture, as it marks the beginning of the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere.

• June

  June was named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and childbirth. It has 30 days, which may be because it was believed to be an auspicious month for marriages and childbirth.

• July

  July was originally known as Quintilis, which means "fifth month" in Latin. It was renamed in honor of Julius Caesar, who was born in this month. It has 31 days, which may be because it was believed to be a lucky month.

• August

  August was originally known as Sextilis, which means "sixth month" in Latin. It was renamed in honor of Augustus Caesar, the first Roman emperor. It has 31 days, which may be because it was believed to be an auspicious month for military conquests.

• September

  September means "seventh month" in Latin. It has 30 days, which may be because it was considered a transition month between summer and fall.

• October

  October means "eighth month" in Latin. It has 31 days, which may be because it was believed to be a lucky month.

• November

  November means "ninth month" in Latin. It has 30 days, which may be because it was considered a transition month between fall and winter.

• December

  December means "tenth month" in Latin. It has 31 days, which may be because it was believed to be a lucky month.

In conclusion, the logic behind the number of days in each month is a combination of historical, cultural, and practical reasons, and it has been shaped by various factors over time.

Do you know February is most debated? Find out why!
WHY FEBRUARY ONLY HAS 28 AND SOMETIMES 29 DAYS?