We all know that there are 12 months in a year, but have you ever wondered why? What makes this number so special? From 12 zodiac signs to 12 digits on clocks and 12-digit phone numbers. There's something magical about the number 12.

Why 12 months?

The 12-month calendar we use today has an interesting history. It began with the Egyptians, who divided the year into 12 months of 30 days, adding 5 extra days to balance things out. The Romans first had a 10-month in a year but later added January and February to make it 12.

Late in 46 BC, Julius Caesar fixed the calendar by adding leap years and giving months new names, like July after himself. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII made further changes, skipping 10 days to align the calendar with the sun, which we use today.

The number 12 was chosen because it's easy to divide and has special meaning in many ways like the 12 zodiac signs, the 12 disciples of Jesus, and 12 hours of labour.

What if it was 10 months?

Imagine a new year starting in March instead of January, the accounting team would be in a panic as March is their accounting month. How crazy would it be, right? And additionally, no Valentine's Day, wouldn't it be so weird? All thanks to Pope George for making it 12.

February got robbed!

Finally, we’ve understood the history of the calendar, but why was February given 28 days, and why did the Romans hate February? Do you think they were superstitions? What is the reason for February to carry such blame? Let's find out.

Remember when the Romans wanted 10 months, where January and February weren't added because they believed February as a winter-based month, it wasn't useful for any agricultural or welfare purposes. Yeah, so they went with that. Later, King Numa came for ruling; he added those 2 months to balance out the days.

Did you know? Those superstitions still existed in those eras, especially with odd and even numbers.

However, Numa wanted to avoid having even numbers in his calendar, as Roman superstition at the time held that even numbers were unlucky.

So when he did the calculation, it stopped balancing out as he now had 56 days left to work with. In the end, at least 1 month out of the 12 is needed to contain an even number of days.

As the sum of any even number (12 months) of odd numbers will always equal an even number—and he wanted the total to be odd. So Numa chose February, a month that would act as a host to Roman rituals honoring the dead, as the unlucky month consisting of 28 days.

How Adventurous was it? The simple calendar we have has had more adventures than anyone would have imagined.

Now, fun fact time: Did you know each month was named after a king or god? Check them out:

Fun Facts: The Kings of the Calendar

Each month was named after a king or god! Check them out:

1. January: Named after King Janus, the two-faced god who can look both ways (perfect for New Year’s resolutions).
2. February: Named after King Februus, the god of purification. A month to cleanse—physically or mentally.
3. March: Named after King Mars, the god of war. Time to fight off winter and welcome spring.
4. April: Named after King Aphrodite, the goddess of love. Spring flirts with everyone.
5. May: Named after King Maia, a goddess of growth. Time for everything to bloom.
6. June: Named after King Juno, the goddess of marriage. Best month for weddings!
7. July: Named after King Julius Caesar, the ultimate ruler. Summer fun and BBQs await.
8. August: Named after King Augustus, a Roman emperor. He said, “Make it hot!”
9. September: Named after King Septimus, meaning “seven,” even though it’s the 9th month. Classic calendar mix-up.
10. October: Named after King Octavian, also known as Augustus. The month of pumpkins and spooky vibes.
11. November: Named after King Novem, meaning “nine,” though it’s the 11th month. Time for feasts and family.
12. December: Named after King Decimus, meaning “ten.” The final month, bringing holiday cheer.

Fun Facts About the Calendar You Never Knew!

1. October Isn’t the 8th Month Anymore (Oops!)

Ever noticed how September, October, November, and December have number-based names? Sept = 7, Oct = 8, Nov = 9, Dec = 10—but they’re the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th months now! The Romans messed up when they added January and February, pushing everything forward.

2. The Lost 10 Days of 1582

When the Gregorian calendar was introduced, October 4th was immediately followed by October 15th. Imagine going to sleep and waking up 10 days in the future! People were so confused, they thought they had lost days of their lives.

3. February 30 Happened!

Sweden accidentally created a February 30th in 1712. It was part of a failed attempt to transition from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, and they had to add an extra day to fix the mess!

4. A Year Without a Summer?

In 1816, a volcanic eruption caused extreme climate changes, making summer disappear in many places. Snow fell in June, and crops failed, leading to global food shortages.

Finally,

Did we ever think that February seemed to be bullied in those eras? Also, who knew something as simple as our calendar had such a wild and chaotic history? And even a missing 10 days in history—our way of keeping time has been through quite an adventure!

If things had gone differently, we might have only 10 months, no February at all, or even random extra days added here and there. Imagine celebrating New Year’s in March or skipping your birthday altogether in a lost calendar update!

Timekeeping wasn’t always as simple as checking your phone or flipping through a planner. It was a game of power, superstition, and mathematical tweaks to keep everything aligned with the sun, the moon, and religious beliefs. We might take it for granted today, but every date we use has a long and fascinating backstory.

So, next time you check the date, remember—you’re not just looking at numbers. You’re looking at a story of power, superstition, mistakes, and adjustments that shaped the way we mark time today.

What’s your favorite weird calendar fact? Would you prefer a 10-month year or to keep things as they are? Let’s time-travel through history and imagine the possibilities. 

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