The Year of 2011 comes. From January to December, 12 months will welcome us. How much do you know about a month? You know simply that a year contains 12 months and three months takes one season. Let’s investigate it in more detail. A Month is already too deeply involved in your life. The CBNU Globe, which you are reading now, is published every other month. Your birthday is in June or you would join in the army in March. Last month you might have worried too much about your electric bill.
You might hear that if you couldn’t pay monthly rent, you would be evicted from your room. In Orient, people keep an animal that symbolizes them. It is called the sexagenary cycle and includes twelve animals. On the other hand, in Western, people have a constellation that applies to their birthday. But you don’t know about “month” itself in detail. Do you know the origin of the word “month” and your birthstone? Reading this, check the meaning of “month” and your birthstone and think about which month is special to you.
1 January
It is derived from the two faced ‘JANUS’ that also opens the door of the sky bringing the morning and closes the door with the twilight. The Janus also sees the past and the future as well.
Birthstone: Garnet
The birthstone of January is Garnet whose color is red. Garnet has been known since a very long time before and was used for roughly thousands of years. It is written in the Bible that Garnet was also used as the first among 12 jewels in the breastplate of Aaron’s armor suit (the very first archpriest of Israel). Garnet indicates love, success and reputation. It was also believed as a jewel to protect health as well as to prevent oneself from death. In addition, it was used frequently in diadems, as it meant the royal authority.
2 February
In ancient Rome, today’s February was the last month of the year. So, the name originated from ‘FEBRUA’, the ritual to cleanse dirty things before the approach of the new year.
Birthstone: Violet Quartz
3 March
March is the end of winter and the starting line of spring, and it was derived from ‘MARS’ the god of war who went at the head of March and fought bravely.
Birthstone: Aquamarine
You can think of the blue ocean by just having a glimpse of this word Aquamarine, combining the words aqua and marine, which mean water and ocean, respectively. Aquamarine is the symbol of eternal youth and happiness and was considered as a stone that gives you health and hope. It is said that a person who has an impetuous and nervous personality gets to relax when wearing an Aquamarine ring.
4 APRIL
April means the opening of creation of nature, and it was derived from ‘APERIRE’, which means ‘open’ in Latin language.
Birthstone: Diamond
The diamond contains the highest hardness degree among all natural stone materials. It was regarded as a guardian stone that women should have, and it symbolized bringing wealth and happiness.
5 MAY
May is the month in which all plants grow steadily. It came from the name of the god of growth in spring, ‘MAIA’.
Birthstone: Emerald
6 June
There are many suppositions about the derivation of June. It is said that it was derived from Junius, one of the elite families in Rome, or Juniores, the Roman Concilium Peblis. However, the most supported assumption is that the name was from ‘JUNO’, the god of marriage and birth.
Birthstone: Pearl
Health, longevity and wealth are what the Pearl stands for, and it is found in clams in the ocean. If the diamond could be dubbed as the king of jewels, the pearl could be said as the queen. This ever loved pearl, loved by everyone without difference between the East and West or men and women, has a price charge that is proportional to its size.
7 July
In ancient Rome, since February was the last month of the year, July was the 5th month. In old times the name of July was ‘Quintilis’, which meant the 5th. However, nowadays it is originated from ‘Julius’. It is the name celebrating the Roman King, Julius Caesar, who made the outset of the solar calendar.
Birthstone: Ruby
brooch on the left side.
8 August
In ancient Rome, the name for it was Sextilis, meaning the 6th, however the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar changed the name referring to his own, Augustus.
Birthstone: Peridot
9 September
It was originated from ‘SEPTEM’, which means the 7th. There are such words as septangle and septuple that comes from the word ‘Septem’.
Birthstone: Sapphire
Sapphire is the symbol of virtue, benevolence, faithfulness and sincerity. For this reason, all members of the Roman Vatican are said to wear a sapphire ring. It is also said that the sapphire brings luck to a loving couple when made into a brooch and decorating one’s chest.
10 October
It was derived from the Latin ‘OCTO’, meaning 8th. In the word ‘octopus’, ‘pus’ means foot, so this word describe eight legs, and the word ‘octave’ indicates that there are eight notes.
Birthstone: Opal
11 November
It was originated from the Latin ‘NOVEM’, which means the 9th.
Birthstone: Topaz
cut is commonly used.
12 December
It came from the Latin ‘DECEM’, meaning the 10th.
Birthstone: Turquoise
Being one of the oldest jewels, turquoise, whose name is derived from the Greek word meaning “Turkish”, is the emblem of luck and success, therefore when someone gets it as a present it was believed to bring them bigger luck and success. Also a story is told that the turquoise becomes paler when its owner is ill, and even loses the whole color once the owner dies. However if the owner gets healthy, the color returns to its own shade. The most popular color of this jewel is a strong sky to “robin’s egg” blue.
The most meaningful month to you
You may have an especially valuable month out of the 12 months in one year. For example, the month when your parents’ birthday is or when winter starts, etc… In this way, different people value different months.
February is important to companies because most corporations hold a general meeting of stockholders in February. To them, February can be a turning point that reforms atmosphere and the pursuit of innovation. March is eaningful to students.
In Korea, a new semester starts in March, so students from elementary school to high school anticipate new class, new class teachers and friends. April is important to both humans and other living things because April is when all living things come to life: plants bloom and animals go into action. Forsythia and azalea show their faces and bears and frogs come out of hibernation. If you are concerned in April, you can hear the beating sounds of nature.
May is the month that you can appreciate people around you. May is called the month of the family because Children’s Day, Teacher’s Day, Parents’ Day, and Coming-of-Age Day are in May. How about paying attention to and visiting family and teachers that you often didn’t visit? June is the month that if you are Korean, you can’t forget, because the Korean War broke out in June. If it were not for soldiers’ sacrifi ce, we would be unable to live in comfort. We must not forget those who gave their lives for our country. July is essential to students who studied hard and office workers who worked hard. That’s because vacation is in July. Let’s go on vacation to a beautiful area and ease our stress that was built up due to so much learning, frequently working overtime and a lot of works.
August has a very special meaning to Koreans. National Liberation Day is on August 15th, and this day celebrates the independence of Korea. And for the travel and tourism industry, September will be a very special month. The day of sightseeing is in September. This day is established to improve the tourism industry and promote the importance of tourism. October is special to farmers. This month you can see the fruits of farmers’ efforts. They harvest a crop that they grew throughout the year and feel fulfi lled.
November is very signifi cant to high school seniors. On the second Thursday in November there is the College Scholastic Ability Test. They have prepared for this exam for 12 years, so this exam has great implications for them. December is so interesting because Christmas is in December. It has signifi cance to both couples and singles. That’s because couples will go through the warm winter with their sweethearts and singles will share their day with Kevin (a hero from the movie ‘Home Alone’). And it is an important month because we look back and close the year. At home we do year-end tax adjustments and broadcasting companies hold the end-ofthe-year awards.
But the most important month of all is January. As the fi rst sun rises, people celebrate the New Year with cheers and make a New Year’s resolution. For instance, ‘In the New Year I will study hard and get good grades’, ‘I hope I succeed in promotion and become a highly paid worker.’ and ‘I will keep good company with me’, etc. These resolutions include hope for the future in common. That’s why January is the most important month out of the 12 months.
So far you could check the origin of month name and your birthstone. And until now you may have thought about your most valuable month. But rather than searching for it, wouldn’t it be great if you make every month meaningful? If you make an anniversary and put meaning to every month, you could discover yourself and live in particular all through the year. Are you ready to welcome the 2011 New Year that is yours? Let’s have a good start to begin with!
Moon Whun, Kim Dan-bi, Chung Yi-seul reporters
/ moonwhun@jbnu.ac.kr, 99682463@jbnu.ac.kr, sarachung@jbnu.ac.kr