How September lost a day

by Sumana Saparamadu

You are well into September now. It is the ninth month of the year, but the name means seventh.Julius Caesar, who ruled Rome 45 years before the birth of Christ, altered the calendar adding two months at the beginning. So, September became the ninth month, but the old name continued to be used. In the early calendar, the months had no names, only numbers. The 5th month was Quintu-five. It was named July in honour of Julius Caesar.

You know that some months have 31 days and others, except February, have 30 days. Here is a rhyme that tells you about the days in different months.

Thirty days hath September,
April, June and November,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Except February alone,
Which has twenty eight-days clear,
And twenty-nine in each leap year.

The months with 31 days alternate with those with 30 days. Look at the calendar – March 31, April 30, May 31, June 30 July 31. Then the order is broken. July is followed by August with 31 days. Then again the order is followed.

Why is the order broken in the eighth month?

When Augustus Caesar, the grand nephew of Julius Caesar became Emperor, the eighth month was named August in his honour.

As July had 31 days and August only 30 the Romans feared that the Emperor might be displeased or jealous of Julius Caesar's extra day. So they took a day from September and added it to August.

That's how the order of alternating months was broken and September lost a day.