Ancient Romans referred to January as “Ianuarius” (meaning month of Janus), a word not so far removed from the modern day January and taken from the Etruscan word “Jauna” meaning “door”. The Romans dedicated it as their first month to their god of gateways and doorways whose name was JANUS, hence the name January.

Originally, the old Roman calendar began in spring; the season of new beginnings in the month of March. The beginning of their year was dedicated to the god of war – Mars. According to the Romans, the first (1st) month was the gate through which everyone enters the calendar year; this made it easier to exert unfair influence and control on their enemies by dedicating it to the god Janus hoping they would have better favor in wars. Therefore, January became the first (1st) month of the Gregorian year. In 46 B.C.E., Julius Caesar initiated a thorough reform that resulted in the establishment of a new dating system, the Julian calendar. He wanted the year to begin in January since it contained the festival of gates

He was very superstitious and fearful. He dedicated the beginning of the year to Janus the two-faced deity of beginnings, transitions, doorways passageways gates and endings  (later the god of all beginnings).. Thus, the beginning of the year was moved back 2 months from March to January.  As obeisance to this deity, the Romans would make a sacrifice of cakes made from spelt and at mid-night, throw salt into the flames producing sparks so that this deity would open for them doors for the new year. Today, we have that pagan covenant carried on in the tradition of elaborate fireworks ceremonies at midnight all over the world; ignorantly renewing ancient covenants and making the sacrifice seeking for open doors from this deity.

This calendar was finally re-configured to align to what we have today by Pope Gregory- the Gregorian calendar. While the Biblical pattern begins the year at the gates of the spring season around March/April, the Gregorian calendar begins the year in the middle of the winter season.

Because the Romans decided to dedicate the era after Yeshua’s birth to the LORD referring to them as  “Anno Domini” (A.D) “The year of our LORD”; The LORD has honored the Gregorian calendar; which is most commonly used all over the world, to mark the passage of years.

The last 10 days of January will complete the month Tevet. On 11 January (Sundown) the 1st of Sh’vat commences.  It is the fifth (5th) month of the Biblical civil calendar and the eleventh (11th) month of Biblical Sacred calendar.