How Did January Get Its Name?

Question: How did January get its name?
Answer: January is named after Janus, the god with two faces, one looking forward and one looking backward.

Janus was the god of beginnings and transitions and the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) since January is the door to the year.

January is his month because it is the time when the Sun starts to return and the days grow longer; it was not the New Year in Roman times; the year began in March.  January replaced March as the first month of the Roman year no later than 153 bce.

Learn more about: Janus – the god with two faces

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Source: Britannica