Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1877 — JANUARY. [ARTICLE]

JANUARY.

The god Janue, after whom the month of Jan. nary wae named, watt repreecnted by the Romans aa a man with two facet), one looking backward and the other forward. Thls'implled that he stood between the old and the new year, with a regard to both. It wait the custom of ancient Home to proclaim the first of the mouth, and to post a notice of Its occurrence in some public place, so that the people might be apprised of the religious festivals In which they were expected to take part. This first of the month came to lie styled the Kalendce, or kalends, from the Greek verb Kaleo, I proclaim; and the placard announcing It was called fasti Calendar es. Hence a book of accounts referring to days was subsequently called Calendarium; whence the name Calendar, now In general use. The division of the year Into twelve months has obviously been determined by tho moon’s revolutions. The lunar month is strictly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seoands. There are twelve such periods, and rather lyss than 11 days over in the year. Several attempts had been made by civilized nations to divide the year In accordance with theso revolutions, but to very little effect till Julius Csesar reformed the Calendar and decreed tha* the year should consist of 365 days, followed by one of 866. The general idea of Caesar was that the months should consist of 31 and 30 days alternately, and this was accomplished In the bissextile or leap year, consisting, as It did, of twelve times thirty and six over.