The Germanic calendars were the regional calendars used amongst the Germanic peoples, with origins prior to the adoption of the Julian and later the Gregorian calendar.^[1]

The months were probably lunar; the Old English "mónaþ", Old Norse "mánaðr, and Old High German "mánód",^[2] as well as the modern English "month", modern Icelandic "mánuður", modern Norwegian "måned", modern Swedish "månad", modern Dutch "maand", and the German "Monat",^[2] are all cognate with the word "moon".

The Germanic peoples had their own names for the months which varied by region and dialect, which were later replaced with local adaptations of the Roman month names. However, Germanic languages have largely kept the old Germanic names for the days of the week, most of which are named after Germanic gods.

Our main source of reference for Old English month names comes from the Venerable Bede (ca.672 - 735). He recorded the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon month names in his Latin work known as De temporum ratione (De mensibus Anglorum).^[3]

Charlemagne (ca.742 or 747 - 814) modified the established Julian Calendar to use the agricultural Old High German names of the months in areas under his influence. (See Julian Calendar:Month names for other examples.) They were used until the 15th century, and with some modifications until the late 18th century in Germany and in the Netherlands, broadly speaking. Some of these more recent German month names are given in the table below.

[edit] Month names

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• (German) Old High German dictionary, including month names
• Northvegr article on dating
• Facts and Figures: The Norse Way General information on old Germanic culture, including time.
• (German) Old High German dictionary, including month names
• (German) Old Norse dictionary, including month names
• (German) Old English dictionary, including month names
• Anglo-Saxon month names
• The Anglo-Saxon Calendar

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