JANUARY

, the first month of the year, according to the computation now used in the West, and containing 31 days; so called by the Romans from Janus, one of their divinities, to whom they gave two faces; because on the one side, the first day of this month looked towards the new year, and on the other towards the old one. The name may also be derived from Janua, a gate; this month, being the first of the year, may be considered as the gate or entrance of it.|

January and February were introduced into the year by Numa Pompilius; Romulus's year beginning with the month of March.

JAUMS. See Jambs.