Months and Events
Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains; Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.” (NKJV)
I’ve been seeing references to the fact that we’ll soon be entering the “-ber” months: September, October, November, and December. That made me curious. Why do the last four months of the year end with the suffix “-ber”?
One’s first conclusion might be (at least in the Northern Hemisphere) that we’re leaving the warm summer months and entering autumn and then winter, the “b-r-r-r“ time of year. But then, what about January and February, which are also “b-r-r-r” months?
After an internet search, here’s my conclusion (mostly derived from www.reddit.com):
The Roman calendar contained only ten months. The first five months referred to the agricultural cycle, the sixth through tenth months were simply numbered. September, October, November, and December were the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth months respectively. The “-ber” suffix probably came from the Latin suffix “-bris.”
Julius Caesar decided to add two more months to the calendar year: January, in honor of Janus the god of doorways and referring to the entrance of the year; February, meaning purification, because it was the time of year many purification ceremonies were held. The month Quintilis was changed to July to honor Julius Caesar, and Sextilis became August to honor Augustus Caesar.
September, October, November, and December kept their names but are now the ninth through twelfth months of the year.
So, there you have it.
I’ve taken some time off to do other things during August, not that I’ve neglected writing entirely. I believe that everyone benefits from taking time to refresh oneself in body, mind, and spirit. For a writer, it’s a time to gather new inspiration.
After a wonderful 50th anniversary party attended by dear friends and family members, we traveled with our daughter’s family to Ohio and visited three museums in Kentucky.
Vent Haven is a place for fans of ventriloquists or the art of ventriloquism. I saw Lambchop and other puppets used by Sheri Lewis, Danny O’Day and Farfel (remember the Nestle commercials with Jimmy Nelson), figures belonging to Darci Farmer, and many more. My husband’s the ventriloquist, but I enjoyed the museum.
If you haven’t visited the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter, I recommend both for the beauty, artistry, and biblical truth displayed.
County fairs have been a part of my life since my days as a 4-H exhibitor. My husband and I took a day to attend a local county fair.
September, the first of the -ber months, is upon us. My flowers are saying that growing season has nearly ended. Soon, leaves will be changing from peaceful, refreshing green to riotous oranges, yellows, and reds. The days are shorter and cooler. In New York, it’s back-to-school time.
Each year, each season, each month, each day brings welcome and unwelcome changes. Repeatedly I find myself returning to this Scripture passage for encouragement.
“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22.23
Recent Comments