Before the introduction of European calendars, Russia used its own system of chronology. A summer or a year consisted of 9 calendar months, consisting of an average of 40 days (odd or full months had 41 days each, and even or incomplete months had 40 days), and each week had not 7 days as it is now, but 9 and they were called like this: Monday, Tuesday, Treteynik, Chetverik, Friday, Six, Seven, Oct and Week. Oddly enough, all the days, except perhaps Treteynik and Week, are well known to all of us and we still use them, naming the days of the week.

What do these names mean?

Again, everything is simple and nothing muddy as others write:

Monday - after the Week (day after the week),
Tuesday is the second day
Treteynik - the third day,
Thursday is the fourth day
Friday is the fifth day
Sixth - sixth day,
Seven is the seventh day
Oct - the eighth day (in Polish 8 - eight, and we have eight),
Week - do not do (a day when nothing is done).

The churchmen, having conquered Russia, altered the calendar and threw out two days from the week. The third day became AVERAGE - WEDNESDAY, and the WEEK became SUNDAY - neither to the seventh day - WEEK, nor to the WEEK, it has nothing to do, and the sixth day SIX was replaced by the Hebrew word Sabbath - SATURDAY, which they mean the last day of the week or the seventh day creations!

Quoting the Bible, we find the following meaning of the word SATURDAY - the Sabbath was given by God after the sixth day when man was created: “And on the seventh day God finished His works that He did, and rested on the seventh day from all His works that He did. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, for in it he rested from all his works, which God created and made” (Genesis 2:2-3).
For Jews, Saturday is indeed a holy day. On this day they do not work and they are forbidden to touch money. On Saturday they rest.

We rest on a WEEK - a day when nothing is done (this word has remained in the Ukrainian language to this day, and the word RESURRECTION, which has an obvious church character, has been imposed on the Russian language).

But the baptists of Russia found a way out of this situation, they came up with Slavic names for the Julian calendar and instead of numbers in Latin, they received Slavic names for the month:
Birch - the time of burning trees cut down in winter, mainly birch, for coal. It was also called "Dry", according to the time of drying of the cut down forest or the drying of the earth.

Flowering is the month of flowering.
Traven is the month of herb growth.
Worm - from fruits and berries, which, ripening in June, are distinguished by a special reddishness (scarlet, scarlet, red). In the southern areas, the time of redness of the cherry.
Lipen is the month of linden blossom.
Serpen - from the word "sickle". Harvest time.
Veresen - otherwise called Velesen - the month of the god Veles.
Leaf fall - the time of yellowing and the beginning of falling leaves.
Breast - from the word "pile" - a frozen rut on the road.
Studen - icy (cold). Speaks for itself.
Sechen - from the word "cut" - to cut wood. Usually, the felling of forests for the preparation of new sown areas and its harvesting for construction was carried out in winter. The month was also called "Prosinets", after the appearance blue sky after a long cloud cover.
Fierce is the month of snowstorms and frosts.

Ancient names of months: January - prosinets; February - bokogrey, section, snow; March - berezozol, zimobor, protalnik; April - breezen, snow-driving, pollen; May - herbalist (grass); June - colorful, worm; July - sufferer, Lipets; August - stubble, glow, sickle; September - evening, gloomy; October - leaf fall; November - chest; December is a student. These words have a more transparent meaning to understand. Without looking further, we can now assume why they received this particular name and not another. As we can see, the names of the months in Russia also reflected its “character”: if in July there was a hard time in full swing, then it was called accordingly and no one would call him a herbalist or a frown. Let's analyze in more detail: Zimobor, protalnik, dry, berezosol (March) - the Egyptians, Jews, Moors, Persians, ancient Greeks and Romans began the year from this month; The name March was given to this month by the Romans in honor of Mars, the god of war; it was brought to us from Byzantium. The root Slavic-Russian names of this month in the old days in Russia were different: in the north it was called dry or dry from the spring warmth that drains all moisture, in the south - berezosol, from the action of the spring sun on the birch, which at that time begins to fill with sweet juice and buds. Zimobor - conquering winter, opening the way to spring and summer, protalnik - this month the snow begins to melt, thawed patches and drops appear. The month of March is often called the "flying" month, since spring begins with it, the harbinger of summer, and together with the months following it - April and May - constitutes the so-called "flying". Brezen, pollen, snowman (April) - April - Latin word, from the verb aperire, to open, it indicates the opening of spring. The ancient Russian names of the month of April were: breezen, snow-driving - streams run, taking with them the remnants of snow, or else - pollen, because it is then that the first trees begin to bloom, spring blooms. Herbalist (May) - the Latin name is given in honor of the goddess Mai; as well as many others, it passed to us from Byzantium. The old Russian name for the month of May was herbal, or grass, which reflected the processes that took place in nature at that time - a riot of herbs. This month was considered the third passing month. Multi-colored, worm, izok (June) - the word "junius" is given to this month in honor of the goddess Juno (guess where it came from;)). In the old days, the indigenous Russian names for the month of June were izok. Izok was the name given to the grasshopper, of which this month was especially abundant. Another name for this month is a worm, especially common among Little Russians, from a worm or a worm; this is the name of a special kind of dye worms that appear at this time. In addition, in the old days, the month of June was often called kresnik by the people - from kres (fire), and at the same time from the day of John the Baptist (Ivan Kupala). Stradnik, worm, Lipets (July) - "July", the name given in honor of Julius Caesar, of course, has Roman roots. In our old days, it was called, like June, - worm - from fruits and berries, which, ripening in July, are distinguished by a special reddishness (scarlet, red). This month is also called Lipts - from the linden, which is usually in full bloom at this time. July is also called the "crown of summer", as it is considered last month summer, or still "sufferer" - from the suffering summer work, "thunderstorm" - from severe thunderstorms. Zhniven, glow, sickle (August) - like the previous one, this month got its name from the name of the Roman emperor - Augustus. The root ancient Russian names of the month were different. In the north, it was called "glow" - from the radiance of lightning; in the south, "serpen" - from the sickle, which is used to remove bread from the fields. Often this month is given the name "zornichnik", in which it is impossible not to see the changed old name "glow". The name "stubble", I think, will be unnecessary to explain. Veresen, frowning, ruyin (September) - “sentemvriy”, the ninth month of the year, was the seventh among the Romans, which is why it got its name (from septem). In the old days, the original Russian name for the month was "ruyin", from the roar of the autumn winds and animals, especially deer. He received the name "frown" due to his weather differences from others - the sky often begins to frown, it rains, autumn is coming in nature. Leaf fall (October) - "octovrium" is the tenth month of the year; among the Romans, it was the eighth, which is why it got its name (octo - eight); among our ancestors, it is known under the name of “leaf fall”, from the autumn fall of leaves, or “pazdernik” - from pazderi, bonfires, since this month they begin to crush flax, hemp, and manners. Otherwise - "dirty", from the autumn rains, causing bad weather and dirt, or "wedding" - from weddings that are celebrated at this time in peasant life. Breast (November) - “noemvreem” (november) we call the eleventh month of the year, but among the Romans it was the ninth, which is why it got its name (nover - nine). In the old days, this month was called actually chest or chest, from piles of frozen earth with snow, since in general on Old Russian the winter frozen road was called the chest path. Studen (December) - “Dekemvriy” (Latin december) is our name for the 12th month of the year; among the Romans, it was the tenth, which is why it got its name (decem - ten). Our ancestors called it “jelly”, or jelly, from the cold and frost common at that time. Prosinets (January) - it was named so because it was dedicated by the ancient Romans to Janus, the god of the world. In our old days, it was called "prosinets", as it is believed, from the blue of the sky beginning to appear at this time, shining, from strengthening, with the addition of day, sunlight. By the way, take a closer look at the January sky - it lives up to its name. The Little Russian name for January is “sochen” (students perked up when they heard a tasty word) either indicates a turning point in winter, which, according to popular belief, occurs precisely in January, for the dissection of winter into two halves, or for crackling, severe frosts. In Russia, the month of January was originally the eleventh in a row, for March was considered the first, but when the year began to be counted from September, January became the fifth; finally, since 1700, since the change made in our chronology by Peter the Great, this month has become the first. And finally - snow, cross section, bokogrey (February) - February among the Romans was the last month of the year and was named after Febra, the ancient Italian god to whom it was dedicated. The indigenous Slavic-Russian names of this month were: “cut” (a name common to it with January) or “snezhen”, probably from snowy time. In Little Russia, from the 15th century, following the imitation of the Poles, the month of February began to be called "fierce"; the settlers of the northern and middle Russian provinces still call him “side warmer”, because then the cattle comes out of the stables and heats the sides in the sun, and the owners themselves warmed the sides by the stove. Slavic names of months The names of months in many Slavic languages ​​have Slavic etymology (Western European languages ​​and Russian use names of months of Latin origin) However, in different Slavic languages ​​there is no one-to-one correspondence in the names of months, moreover, sometimes the names of months in different languages ​​are shifted for a month. This is due to the fact that in different countries the seasons change in different ways. For example, in Ukraine, spring comes much earlier than in Russia. Breast - DECEMBER or NOVEMBER. Ukrainian: grudzień - December Polish: grudzień - December Slovenian: grudzień - December Bulgarian: gruden - November Lithuanian: gruodis - December (gruodas - "earth frozen in clods") Snezhnik, Snezhen - DECEMBER, a month rich in snow. · Belarusian: snezhan - December · Macedonian: snezhnik - December Prosinets - DECEMBER or JANUARY. Prosinets ("shine") - means the rebirth of the Sun. · Czech: prosinec - December · Croatian: prosinac - December · Slovenian: prosinec - January · Bulgarian: prosinec - January Sich, sichen - JANUARY or FEBRUARY, the time of deforestation. Ukrainian: sіchen - January Polish: styczeń - January Croatian: sječanj - January Slovenian: svečan - February Bulgarian, Macedonian: sechko - February Luten or Fierce - FEBRUARY. · Ukrainian: luty - February · Belarusian: lyuty - February · Polish: luty - February Studen is another name for the winter month. · Belarusian: studen - January · Croatian: studeni - November · Macedonian: studen - November Beloyar, Dry · Dry, dry land - MARCH, little snowy month, the earth dries from the falling snow. · Slovene: sušec - March · Bulgarian: dry - March · Lithuanian: sausis - January · Sokovik - March. The time of movement of sap in the trees. · Belarusian: sakavik - March Berezen - MARCH or APRIL, the time of swelling of birch buds. · Ukrainian: birch - March · Czech: březen - March · Bulgarian: bryazok - April · Lithuanian: birželis - June Flowering, questen, kvіten - APRIL or MAY, flowering time. · Ukrainian: kvіten - April · Polish: kwiecień - April · Czech: květen - May Traven - APRIL or MAY, the time of grass growth. Ukrainian, Belorussian: traven - May Croatian: travanj - April Slovenian: mali traven - April, veliki traven - May Macedonian: traven - April Bulgarian: traven - May Belarusian: traven - May (used along with the name May ) Izok - JUNE, month of insects. · Bulgarian: izok - June Cherven - JUNE or JULY, red (red, scarlet). Perhaps this month got its name from the worms (insects whose larvae appear during these months); there is a version that this is due to bee larvae; according to the third version, the month is named so because red berries and flowers appear in June-July. Ukrainian: red - June Belarusian: red - June Polish: czerwiec - June Czech: červen - June, červenec - July Bulgarian: red - June, chrven - July Lipen - JULY or JUNE (among the southern Slavs). It is named so in commemoration of linden blossom. Belarusian: lipen - July Ukrainian: lipen - July Polish: lipiec - July Croatian: lipanj - June Lithuanian: liepa - July harvest time. Ukrainian: serpen - August Polish: sierpień - August Czech: srpen - August Croatian: srpanj - July Slovenian: mali srpan - July, veliki srpan - August Belarusian: Zhniven - August Upper Lusatian: žnjenc - August Macedonian : zhitar - June, zhetvar - August Bulgarian: zhetar, sarpen - July Lithuanian: rugpjūtis - August (rugis "rye" + pjūtis "harvest") Zarev - AUGUST or SEPTEMBER. · Czech: září - September · Bulgarian: glow - August Veresen (also spring) - SEPTEMBER. There are two versions of the origin of this name: the first - the name is derived from the word "vreschi" - in Old Slavonic "thresh", the second - heather blooms this month. Ukrainian: Veresen - September Belarusian: Verasen - September Polish: wrzesień - September Ruen - SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER Czech: říjen - October Croatian: rujan - September Bulgarian: ruen, rui - October Names associated with the grape harvest Macedonian: thunderstorm - September Slovenian: vinotok - October Zhovten - associated with yellow foliage Ukrainian: Zhovten - October Belarusian: kastrychnik (from the name of the fires (bonfires) - a product of scutching flax, hemp, etc.) - October Polish: październik (from Polish paździerze - the same) - October Lithuanian: spalis - October (spalis with the same meaning) Leaf fall - NOVEMBER or OCTOBER, trees lose their leaves. Ukrainian: falling leaves - November Belarusian: falling leaves - November Polish: listopad - November Czech: listopad - November Croatian: listopad - October Slovenian: listopad - November Bulgarian, Macedonian: falling leaves - October Lithuanian: lapkritis - November (lapas "leaf" + kristi "fall")

Old Slavic calendar. Month names and explanations

Slavic calendar or months. The calendar consists of twelve months, which make up a full year, year or. The names of the months are not invented just like that and are not borrowed from other peoples and foreign languages. All names come from events and phenomena that are characteristic of a particular season.

It is worth knowing that in ancient times the calendar was sunny. It consisted of four seasons, each of which celebrated the festival of the Sun: two solstices and two equinoxes. Later in Russia they introduced moon calendar, which depends on the phases of the moon. Because of this, there was a transfer of calendar dates, as a result of which the new style is ahead of the old one by 13 days.

January (Sechen, Prosinets). The name Prosinets, as researchers believe, came from the fact that this month added light, the blue of the sky appears more and more often. The cut is from the fact that in January there is a turning point in winter, which divides the winter into two parts. In our time, Prosinets is the first month of the year, in ancient times it was the eleventh, since the New Year was celebrated in March (from 21 to 22 - the spring equinox).

February (Lute, Snezhen). The name Snezhen came from the onset of snowy time. Blizzards and snowfalls were common this month. For the same reason, it was also called Luten (fierce blizzards).

March (Berezen, Berezozol, Dropper). The names Berezen and Berezozol come from the fact that in March they begin to fill with birch sap, in March they release the first buds. Droplet - from the fact that the first drops occur this month, the snow begins to melt. March was the first month in ancient Russia. With the advent of spring, the resurrection of nature and the beginning of a new summer were celebrated (in ancient times, the Year was called Summer).

April (Pollen). The first trees begin to bloom, the first flowers, spring wakes up.

May (Traven). Herbal, Herbalist, herbal - from a riot of growing herbs that, after winter, stretched towards the Sun, and everything around became bright green.

June (Kresen, Cherven, Izok). The ancient Slavs called izok the grasshoppers, of which there were a large number this month. Kresnik, Kresen came from an ancient word meaning Fire. Worm - from fruits and berries that were poured red (red - scarlet). In addition, in some areas, June was called colorful.

July (Lipen, Stradnik, Groznik). The time of linden blossom, hard work in the field and strong thunderstorms. Lipen was considered the last summer month among the Slavs. After Perunov Day (20 lipen), autumn began.

August (Serpen, Zhniven). These names do not need to be deciphered. It is clear that in this month bread is removed with a sickle, the harvest is harvested, and the harvest time comes. In some places this month was called Zarev, from the fact that in August the animals roared.

September (Veresen, Khmuren, Ruyin). The name Ruying comes from the roar of the autumn winds and animals, especially deer. The sky begins to frown more and more often, it rains, summer finally turns into autumn, from these phenomena September received the name Khmuren. Another name - Veresen - comes from the fact that heather begins to bloom at this time.

October (Leaf fall, Pazdernik, Gryaznik, Svadebnik). The fall autumn leaves, bad weather, rains, ubiquitous dirt. Weddings were also celebrated at this time, so he, among other things, was also called a wedding man, the time for weddings.

November (Breast). The name chest came from the piles of ground frozen with snow. Piles, the chest path is a winter, frozen road.

December (Stuzhen, Studen). Frost and cold. The coldest month of the year.

The Young Sun was born in the sky, Kolyada, began new circle solar wheel. Today, the beginning of the year is considered from January 1, but in the old days it was different. The New Year was celebrated in the spring or autumn, and with the Kolyada holiday it began New Year for farmers. About how our Ancestors saw the year, they tell the Slavic names of the months and sayings that the northern land keeps. About that in new article let's tell.

The name of the months folk calendar reflects what nature is rich at this time. In January, the day grows, the cold grows, and in the spring the grass overgrows with grass during the night. The Slavs have noticed since ancient times, but they gave folk names months, suggesting what to expect from mother nature.

How many calendars did the Slavs have?

Since ancient times, the Slavs used natural calendar, Monthly. It was embroidered by Kargopol craftswomen on old sundresses and aprons. The Slavic names of the months in different areas knew their own. In the south, "worm", the month of ripening berries, already came in June, in the north - in July. The folk names of the months reflected the gifts of nature, characteristic of a certain season, and therefore differed for the south and north. And all the same were part of a single natural calendar!

Kargopol calendar on an apron and sundress

After that, the Christian faith came to us, and the foreign names of the months in the calendar. So three calendars appeared in Russia at once: the “worldly” calendar, which we know today, the church calendar with Christian holidays, and the agricultural one, with traditional folk Slavic names of the months.

Popular names of the months among the Slavs

The Slavic names of the months, as if the images of young guys, mature husbands and old people, pass before us in a round dance. Who is affectionate, kind, yes, like a young guy, owns small wealth, and who is stern, but keeps great wisdom.

Opens the year january, prosinets month. We honor young Kolyada at this time. The sun begins to arrive, as if the sky “shone”, hence the name of the month. And at the end of Prosinets the sky will become bright, turquoise blue. We know that February is coming, Sechen, to wait for a visit. The name of the month according to the folk calendar suggests that in February, winter and spring meet for the first time, Velesova Strecha cuts the winter in two, it’s time to wait for spring soon. Finally, another winter will fight, which is why February is still called Snezhen, because of frequent snowstorms.
Well, among the people, the time for watching began:

-Chtol on the first powder,

Well, according to the first powder,

Shell is a good guy.

By another powder,

White curly.

Not by walking, not expensive -

Alien boundary.

Not a stranger walked between -

To visit the lady.

Slavic names of the months of winter: Studen, Prosinets, Sechen

The winter will end spring will come! All red, but hungry. Slavic names of the spring months: Zimobor, Protalnik (March); Berezen, Snegogon (April); Herbalist, Bloom (May). Zimobor, the month of March - the first Calls of Spring, a premonition of imminent heat. At the end of March, on the day spring equinox We meet God Yarilo.

April, Snegogon, rich in water. And also April - the month of Birch, the sap is moving in the birch trees, people are starting to prepare for sowing - April will drive it out of the oven! Bloom, the month of May is the long-awaited time! May grass feeds the hungry! Yes, May is different. In a good year and in an open field, you can sleep, in a bad year - and it's cold on the stove. The morning of the month is not yet summer.

Popular names of the spring months: Zimobor, Berezen, Travnik

Another thing June - Multicolor, Khleborost. Flowers and herbs grow everywhere, bring joy to life. Bread is growing, because in June it’s a day for a year, you need to do a lot in the fields. There is a time in June for the holiday of the crown of summer - the meeting of God Kupalo.

July follows: and mows, and reaps, does not let sleep. The name of the month of July according to the folk calendar - Stradnik, Worm. Worm - from the fact that they ripen in the forests, in the gardens, red, black and red berries. June is a rich month, and August will be even richer! Zhniven, Serpen, Slavic names of the month of August. The harvest begins, the feast of the sponka, the first bread of the new harvest is baked, the Gods are thanked for the fertility of the Earth, and they look into the future with one eye. What's in store for autumn?

How we walked with you, white swan,

By raisins, by red ones, by berries,

We walked and showed off

We walked and rejoiced!

Slavic names of the months of summer: Raznotsvet, Stradnik, Zhniven

Autumn will open September, Khmuren month. The name of the month according to the folk calendar reflects the saying: in September it is finer in the afternoon, but it is worthless in the mornings. They also say that September is cold, but full. In September, the remains of the harvest are harvested, and God Avsenya is met on the day of the autumn solar break. It's time for weddings.

The nightingales are chirping like summer,

Birds chirp in a mezhonny way.

The red girl sat

From the head the road will

From braids and scarlet ribbons -

Nicknamed braids.

Even if you don't sit still.

Generous September will be replaced by October, the month when the peasant lives with an eye. Leaf fall, October, does not give generous fruits. Who did not have time to prepare for the winter, it will be bad today. They also say that in October there is no road either on wheels or on runners - another Slavic name for the month of Mud. November, Gruden sets winter overnight, brings the first winter, “chest” road, consisting of frozen earth and snow. The toboggan run opens, women arrange linen brides, men prepare grain for the winter auction.

Titles autumn months in the folk calendar: Khmuren, Leaf fall, Breast

Ends the year december, studen. In early December, Frost, the Spirit of Winter, comes to earth. It covers the rivers with ice, paves the winter road, nails the roofs, nails them down, closes the houses with an ice crust for the winter, protects people from the fierce cold.

December Solstice is glorious! As the sun turns, we will meet the young Kolyada, a new circle will begin, new meeting with twelve Slavic months!

Where can I find a calendar with the popular names of the months these days?

At the Severnaya Skazka publishing house, we are trying to revive ancient traditions so that everyone can use the traditional, natural calendar. For the Kolyada holiday, we made such a calendar for 2019 with the Slavic names of the months and the dates of traditional holidays!

With those who want to look into the future at the beginning of the new Kologod, we share the prediction of the Slavic Rez. The gods gave us the answer of what to expect in the coming year. .

The Young Sun, Kolyada, was born in the sky, a new circle of the solar wheel began. Today, the beginning of the year is considered from January 1, but in the old days it was different. The New Year was celebrated in spring or autumn, and the new year for farmers began with the Kolyada holiday. About how our Ancestors saw the year, they tell the Slavic names of the months and sayings that the northern land keeps. We will talk about that in a new article.
The name of the months according to the folk calendar reflects what nature is rich in at this time. In January, the day grows, the cold grows, and in the spring the grass overgrows with grass during the night. The Slavs have noticed this since ancient times, and gave the folk names of the months, suggesting what to expect from Mother Nature. ">

The very word "calendar" in Russian has been known since the end of the 17th century. Prior to that, it was called the "monthly word". But whatever you call it, the goals remain the same - fixing dates and measuring time intervals. The calendar allows us to record events in their chronological order, serves to predict the future. (what to expect in three months - what kind of weather, holiday, when to plant potatoes and go to barbecue?) lets you remember important dates (for example, when did you enter school?), and for many other purposes. As you can see, there are benefits from all sides. The segments of time, of which this necessary invention consists, had to be named somehow. And each nation approached this in its own way, in a popular way. In Greece alone, in its various regions, there were different names months. For example, the first month in Athens was called Hecatombeon, in Miletus - Panemos, in Delphi - Appelaus, etc. The following names were in use in Rome: Januarius, Februarius, Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Junius, Quintilis, Sextilis, September, Oktober, November, December.
Familiar, isn't it? Many of them migrated to European languages. And now we call the first month January, English January, Germans January, French people January, Italians Gennaio.
But before these names came to us, others were used in Russia.

Old names of the months:

• January - prosinets;


• February - bokogrey, cross section, snow;


• March - berezosol, zimobor, protalnik;


• April - breeze, snowman, pollen;


• May - herbalist (herbal);


• June - colorful, worm;


• July - sufferer, lipets;


• August - stubble, glow, sickle;


• September - heather, gloom;


• October - leaf fall;


• November - chest;


• December - jelly.

These words have a more transparent meaning to understand. Without looking further, we can now assume why they received this particular name and not another. As we can see, the names of the months in Russia also reflected its “character”: if in July there was a hard time in full swing, then it was called accordingly and no one would call him a herbalist or a frown.
Let's take a closer look:

Zymobor, protalnik, dry, berezosol (March)- Egyptians, Jews, Moors, Persians, ancient Greeks and Romans started the year from this month; The name March was given to this month by the Romans in honor of Mars, the god of war; it was brought to us from Byzantium. The root Slavic-Russian names of this month in the old days in Russia were different: in the north it was called dry or dry from the spring warmth that drains all moisture, in the south - berezosol, from the action of the spring sun on the birch, which at that time begins to fill with sweet juice and buds. Zimobor - conquering winter, opening the way to spring and summer, prothalnik - this month the snow begins to melt, thawed patches and drops appear. The month of March is often called the "flying" month, since spring begins with it, the harbinger of summer, and together with the months following it - April and May - constitutes the so-called "flying".

Brezen, pollen, snow-driving (April)- Aprilium - Latin word, from the verb aperire, to open, it indicates the opening of spring. The ancient Russian names of the month of April were: breezen, snow-driving - streams run, carrying away the remnants of snow, or else - pollen, because it is then that the first trees begin to bloom, spring blooms.

Herbalist (May)- the Latin name is given in honor of the goddess Mai; as well as many others, it passed to us from Byzantium. The old Russian name for the month of May was herbal, or grass, which reflected the processes that took place in nature at that time - a riot of herbs. This month was considered the third passing month.

Multicolor, worm, izok (June)- the word "junius" is given to this month in honor of the goddess Juno (guess where it came from ;)). In the old days, the indigenous Russian names for the month of June were izok. Izok was the name given to the grasshopper, of which this month was especially abundant. Another name for this month is a worm, especially common among Little Russians, from a worm or a worm; this is the name of a special kind of dye worms that appear at this time. In addition, in the old days, the month of June was often called kresnik by the people - from kres (fire), and at the same time from the day of John the Baptist (Ivan Kupala).

Stradnik, worm, Lipets (July)- "Julius", the name given in honor of Julius Caesar, of course, has Roman roots. In our old days, it was called, like June, - worm - from fruits and berries, which, ripening in July, are distinguished by a special reddishness (scarlet, red). This month is also called Lipts - from the linden, which is usually in full bloom at this time. July is also called the “crown of summer”, since it is considered the last month of summer, or else “sufferer” - from suffering summer work, “thunderstorm” - from severe thunderstorms.

Zhniven, glow, sickle (August)- like the previous one, this month got its name from the name of the Roman emperor - Augustus. The root ancient Russian names of the month were different. In the north, it was called "glow" - from the radiance of lightning; in the south, "serpen" - from the sickle, which is used to remove bread from the fields. Often this month is given the name "zornichnik", in which it is impossible not to see the changed old name "glow". The name "stubble", I think, will be unnecessary to explain.

Veresen, frowning, ruyin (September)- “sentemvriy”, the ninth month of the year, was the seventh among the Romans, which is why it got its name (from septem). In the old days, the original Russian name for the month was "ruyin", from the roar of the autumn winds and animals, especially deer. He received the name "frown" due to his weather differences from others - the sky often frowns, it rains, autumn comes in nature.

Leaf fall (October)- "Octoberia" is the tenth month of the year; among the Romans, it was the eighth, which is why it got its name (octo - eight); among our ancestors, it is known under the name of “leaf fall”, from the autumn fall of leaves, or “pazdernik” - from pazderi, bonfires, since this month they begin to crush flax, hemp, and manners. Otherwise - "dirty", from the autumn rains, causing bad weather and dirt, or "wedding" - from weddings that are celebrated at this time in peasant life.

Breast (November)- "Noemvri" (november) we call the eleventh month of the year, but the Romans had it the ninth, which is why it got its name (nover - nine). In the old days, this month was called the actual chest or chest, from the piles of frozen earth with snow, since in general in the Old Russian language the winter frozen road was called the chest path.

Studen (December)- “Dekemvriy” (Latin december) is the 12th month of the year; among the Romans, it was the tenth, which is why it got its name (decem - ten). Our ancestors called it “jelly”, or jelly, from the cold and frost common at that time.

Prosinets (January)- it was named so because it was dedicated by the ancient Romans to Janus, the god of the world. In our old days, it was called “prosinets”, as it is believed, from the blue of the sky beginning to appear at this time, radiance, from strengthening, with the addition of day, sunlight. By the way, take a closer look at the January sky - it lives up to its name. The Little Russian name for January is "sochen" (students perked up when they heard the delicious word) indicates either the turning point of winter, which, according to popular belief, occurs precisely in January, the dissection of winter into two halves, or crackling, severe frosts. In Russia, the month of January was originally the eleventh in a row, for March was considered the first, but when the year began to be counted from September, January became the fifth; finally, since 1700, since the change made in our chronology by Peter the Great, this month has become the first.

And finally - snow, cross section, bokogray (February)- February among the Romans was the last month of the year and was named after Febra, the ancient Italian god to whom it was dedicated. The indigenous Slavic-Russian names of this month were: “cut” (a name common to it with January) or “snezhen”, probably from snowy time. In Little Russia, from the 15th century, following the imitation of the Poles, the month of February began to be called "fierce"; the settlers of the northern and middle Russian provinces still call him “side warmer”, because then the cattle comes out of the stables and heats the sides in the sun, and the owners themselves warmed the sides by the stove.

Slavic names of the months

The names of months in many Slavic languages ​​have a Slavic etymology (Western European languages ​​and Russian use month names of Latin origin)
However, in different Slavic languages ​​there is no one-to-one correspondence in the names of months, moreover, sometimes the names of months in different languages ​​are shifted by a month.
This is due to the fact that different countries have different seasons. For example, in Ukraine, spring comes much earlier than in Russia.

Breast - DECEMBER or NOVEMBER.

· Ukrainian: breast - December
· Polish: grudzień - December
· Slovene: gruden - December
· Bulgarian: chestnut - november
· Lithuanian: gruodis - December (gruodas - "earth frozen in clods")

Snezhnik, Snezhen — DECEMBER, a month rich in snow.
· Belarusian: snezhan - December
· Macedonian: snowfield - December

Prosinets - DECEMBER or JANUARY. Prosinets ("shine") - means the rebirth of the Sun.
· Czech: prosinec - December
· Croatian: prosinac - December
· Slovenian: prosinec - January
· Bulgarian: Prosinets - January

Sechen, sichen - JANUARY or FEBRUARY, the time of deforestation.
· Ukrainian: sіchen — january
· Polish: styczeń - January
· Croatian: sječanj - January
· Slovenian: svečan - February
· Bulgarian, Macedonian: Sechko - February

Lute or Fierce - FEBRUARY.
· Ukrainian: lyuty - February
· Belarusian: fierce - February
· Polish: luty - February

Studen is another name for the winter month.
· Belarusian: students - January
· Croatian: studeni - November
· Macedonian: studen - November

Beloyar, Dry
· Dry, dry MARCH, a month with little snow, the earth dries from the falling snow.
· Slovenian: sušec - March
· Bulgarian: dry - March
· Lithuanian: sausis - January
· Sokovik - March. The time of movement of sap in the trees.
· Belarusian: sakavik - March

Berezen - MARCH or APRIL, time of swelling of birch buds.
· Ukrainian: birch - March
· Czech: březen - March
· Bulgarian: bryazok - April
· Lithuanian: birželis - June

Bloom, bloom, bloom - APRIL or MAY, flowering time.
· Ukrainian: kviten - april
· Polish: kwiecień - April
· Czech: květen - May

Traven — APRIL or MAY, grass growth time.
· Ukrainian, Belarusian: Traven - May
· Croatian: travanj - April
· Slovenian: malitraven-April, veliki traven -May
· Macedonian: Treven - April
· Bulgarian: Traven - May
· Belarusian: Traven - May (used along with the name May)

Izok - JUNE, month of insects.
· Bulgarian: Izok – June

Worm - June or July, red (red, scarlet). Perhaps this month got its name from the worms (insects whose larvae appear during these months); there is a version that this is due to bee larvae; according to the third version, the month is named so because red berries and flowers appear in June-July.
· Ukrainian: worm - June
· Belarusian: Cherven - June
· Polish: czerwiec - June
· Czech: červen - June, červenec - July
· Bulgarian: chervenik - June, chrven - July

Lipen - JULY or JUNE(among the southern Slavs). It is named so in commemoration of linden blossom.
· Belarusian: lipen - july
· Ukrainian: lipen - July
· Polish: lipiec - July
· Croatian: lipanj - June
· Lithuanian: liepa - July

Serpen (also zhnіven, zhnіvets, zhitar) - AUGUST or JULY (among the southern Slavs), corresponds to the harvest time.
· Ukrainian: Serpen - August
· Polish: sierpień - August
· Czech: srpen - August
· Croatian: srpanj - July
· Slovene: mali srpan - July, veliki srpan - August
· Belarusian: life - August
· Upper Lusatian: žnjenc - August
· Macedonian: jitar - June, zhetvar - August
· Bulgarian: zhetar, sarpen - July
· Lithuanian: rugpjūtis - August (rugis "rye" + pjūtis "harvest")

Zarev - AUGUST or SEPTEMBER.
· Czech: zaří - September
· Bulgarian: glow - August

Veresen (also spring) - SEPTEMBER. There are two versions of the origin of this name: the first - the name is derived from the word "vreschi" - in Old Slavonic "thresh", the second - heather blooms this month.
· Ukrainian: Veresen - September
· Belarusian: Verasen - September
· Polish: wrzesień - September

Ryuen - SEPTEMBER or OCTOBER
· Czech: říjen - October
· Croatian: rujan - September
· Bulgarian: ruen, rui - October
· Names associated with the grape harvest
· Macedonian: Thunderstorm - September
· Slovenian: vinotok - October

Zhovten - associated with the yellow color of the foliage
Ukrainian: Zhovten - October
· Belarusian: kastrychnik (from the name of bonfires (bonfires) - a product of scutching flax, hemp, etc.) - October
· Polish: październik (from Polish paździerze - the same) - October
· Lithuanian: spalis - October (spalis with the same meaning)

Leaf fall - NOVEMBER or OCTOBER the trees are losing their leaves.
· Ukrainian: leaf fall - November
· Belarusian: listapad - November
· Polish: listopad - November
· Czech: listopad - November
· Croatian: listopad - October
· Slovenian: listopad - November
· Bulgarian, Macedonian: leaf fall - October
· Lithuanian: lapkritis - November (lapas "leaf" + kristi "fall")

Comparative names of months in different Slavic languages.