Four Months with Their Original Name: September, October, November, and December

1802 Words8 Pages
September
September is the first of four months of the year that still has its original name after the Latin word for the number seven 'septem'. September is the seventh month of the old Roman calendar and that name has not changed when Julius Caesar made January the first month, which moved September to the ninth month of the year. The Anglo-Saxon name for September was Gerstmonath, Gerste being the Germanic word for barley, which was usually harvested during this month. September is the time of giving thanks to the gods and goddesses that ensured the harvest so far. We celebrate Mabon around the 21st of September and for us, nowadays, when most of us don't harvest anymore, we give our thanks for other reasons, because no matter how bad life is there is always something to be thankful for. September 1st is also the meteorological beginning of autumn.
The birthstone is the Sapphire which corresponds to September being the first month of the year related to the water element. It has a deep blue colour which is the basis for the belief of ancient times, that the earth is build upon a giant sapphire which reflection is what makes our sky so blue. Sapphire comes from the Greek “sapphirus” meaning blue. Among royalty and priests it was considered a sign for wisdom and purity. Their magickal meaning include protection against envy and poisoning and it was even used as a medicine against colic, rheumatism and mental illness, but it had to be powdered therefore.
The birth flowers are forget-me-not, morning glory and the aster. Aster is Latin for star and it was believed the burning aster leaves would ward of snakes. It stands for patience and daintiness and is a classic autumn flower. The forget-me-not was originally called the French equ...

... middle of paper ...

...rts/wiccan_five_elements.htm>.
"Full Moon." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Nov. 2013. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
"Monthly Full Moon Correspondences." About.com Paganism / Wicca. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
"Pagan." Ism: Beliefs, Rituals, History, and Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
"PaganPages.org." PaganPagesorg RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
"PaganPages.org." PaganPagesorg RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
"PaganPages.org." PaganPagesorg RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. .
Show More
Related

More about Four Months with Their Original Name: September, October, November, and December

Open Document