January, named after Janus the god of the doorway

January is named after Janus (Ianuarius), the god of the doorway; the name has its beginnings in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin word for door (ianua) - January is the door to the year. Traditionally, the original Roman calendar consisted of 10 months, totalling 304 days, winter being considered a monthless period. Around 713 BCE, the semi-mythical successor of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius, is supposed to have added the months of January and February, allowing the calendar to equal a standard lunar year (355 days). Although March was originally the first month in the old Roman Calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BCE (Roman writers differ). In contrast, years in dates were identified by naming two consuls, who entered office on May 1 and March 15 before 153 BCE when they began to enter office on January 1. Various Christian feast dates were used for the New Year in Europe during the Middle Ages, including March 25 and December 25. However, medieval calendars were still displayed in the Roman fashion of twelve columns from January to December. Beginning in the sixteenth century, European countries began officially making January 1 the start of the New Year once again — sometimes called Circumcision Style because this was the date of the Feast of the Circumcision, being the eighth day from December 25. Historical names for January include its original Roman designation, Ianuarius, the Saxon term Wulf-monath (meaning wolf month) and Charlemagne's designation Wintarmanoth (winter / cold month). The above was a little background for where this month came from, 2 months created by man and added to a different calendar which had also been created by man: Wolf Month, I can understand that after watching the huge full moon the last two nights, named by a people who suffer the same seasonal frigid cold as we do, January has seemed to me an unforgiving month, harsh, and at times to cold to think straight, but then I live in the midwest. A long time ago in the history of man there will be mentioned a time when the lands were dark, a time when the lands became unseasonably cold, a time and weather condition that invoked travel amongst the people to search for a warmer climate and the food that a warmer climate would yield to the populace, it is referenced in many books about Europe and in particular some of the slavic countries, in my minds eye I have believe it to have been an extended January which brought darkness, starvation, and a blight on the people, they speak of the dark cloud masses covering any sunlight from getting through to the land....and the wolves ran rampant over powering travelers on foot and travelers by carriage's horses so hungry and bold were they. Yes it must have started in January, be it the doorway to the year, it is one harsh month to get through. Very little margin for errors here, exercise caution, stay in doors as often as possible, and drink hot liquids to keep the colds from your body and spirits. Goodbye to January*