by Carlene Koken

January is named after the old Roman God Janus. He was a two-faced God with one face looking toward the past and the other toward the future.

February comes from the Latin word ''februa,'' a ceremonial feast of purification held by the Romans

March was originally the first month of the year in the Roman calendar. The Romans named the month after Mars, the God of war. Later March became the third month.

No one really knows how April got its name. Some people think the month was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. Others think that it came from the Latin word'' aperire,'' meaning '' to open,'' referring to the opening of spring buds and flowers.

The month of May was probably named for Maia Majesta, the Roman goddess of spring.

The ancient Romans named the first month of summer, probably in honor of the Goddess, Juno, Patroness of women, marriage and the home.

Mark Antony, the Roman general and orator, named July after Julius Caesar.

August was the sixth month of the early Roman calendar. It was called Sextilis, which means ''sixth.'' The Roman emperor Augustus renamed the month August in honor of himself.

The ancient Romans named September after the Latin word meaning ''seven.'' In the old Roman calendar, it was the seventh month of the year.

October received its name from the ancient Romans. ''October'' comes from a Latin word meaning ''eight.'' It was the eighth month of the year in the old Roman calendar.

November was the ninth month of the ancient Romans' ten - month year, so its name came from ''novem,'' the Latin word for nine.

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December takes its name from ''decem,'' the Latin word for '' ten'' because it was once the tenth month in the Ancient Roman calendar.