Math Is Fun Forum

mathaholic

Member

From: Earth

Registered: 2012-11-29

Posts: 3,251

Why is October the eighth month?

Because of the prefix -octo, meaning eight. Got it?

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Agnishom

Real Member

From: Riemann Sphere

Registered: 2011-01-29

Posts: 24,996

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Re: Why is October the eighth month?

Lol

Last edited by Agnishom (2012-12-04 14:29:48)

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'And fun? If maths is fun, then getting a tooth extraction is fun. A viral infection is fun. Rabies shots are fun.'
'God exists because Mathematics is consistent, and the devil exists because we cannot prove it'
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soroban

Member

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 452

Re: Why is October the eighth month?

.
Note that September means seven, October means eight,
. . November means nine, and December means ten.

I've heard the story (probably apocryphal) that there were ten months originally.
Then Julius Caesar created a month in his honor, July.
Not to be outshone, Caesar Augustus created a month for himself, August.

It is probably an "urban legend", but it is a colorful story.
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scientia

Member

Registered: 2009-11-13

Posts: 224

Re: Why is October the eighth month?

Well, I always thought it was because the first month of the year used to be April rather than January. It was changed to January when the Gregorian calendar was adopted. That was how the tradition of the April fool started – to mock people (especially country peasants) who hadn't heard the news and still thought April 1st was the first day of the year.

Last edited by scientia (2013-01-01 07:24:18)