July, Julius Caesar's month

by Sumana Saparamadu

The calendar the world follows today was given to us by the Romans and the months are named after their gods - Janus, Mars and goddesses - Juno Maia. April is from a word meaning opener, Spring and February are from Februa their feast of purification.

This is only upto the sixth month. The seventh month July, which was Quintilus in the old calendar was named July to honour Julius Caesar, the great statesman and ruler of the Roman Empire. Julius Caesar was born in this month and he wanted the month given his name. So Quintilus became July and the old order of naming months after gods and goddesses was broken.

Before Caesar reformed the calendar adding two months at the beginning, this was the fifth month and therefore named Quintilius.

July coincides with Esala, the third month in the Buddhist calendar. It is the month of festivals and peraheras.

The festivals in honour of gods held at the devalas and kovils culminate with processions. The festivals begin at the Kataragama devala in the South. One perahera follows another culminating with the Esala perahera in Kandy.

But the perahera season does not end with Esala. In the next two months there is a perahera, somewhere in the island.