Category Etymology

How April got its name: A story of nature and myth

The month April has mysterious origins. The most popular theory suggests that it derives from the Latin word aperire, meaning “to open.” This fits with the month’s timing, as April marks the opening of spring—when flowers begin to bloom and…

March

How did March get its name?

Did you know March, the third month of the modern calendar, derives its name from Latin Martius, meaning “month of Mars”? Mars was the Roman god of war, and March was originally the first month of the year in the…