the name of the first month of the year, according to the computation now used in the west. The word is derived from the Latin Januarius, a name given it by the Romans from Janus, one of their divinities, to whom they attributed two faces, because on the one side the first day of January looked towards the new year, and on the other towards the old one. The word Januarius may also be derived from janua "gate;" in regard this month being the first, is, as it were, the gate of the year.

January and February were introduced into the year by Numa Pompilius; Romulus's year beginning in the month of March.—The kalends, or first day of this month, was under the protection of Juno, and in a peculiar manner consecrated to Janus by an offering of a cake made of new meal and new salt, with new frankincense and new wine. On the first day of January a beginning was made of every intended work, the consuls elect took possession of their office, who, with the flamens, offered sacrifices and prayers for the prosperity of the empire. On this day all animosities were suspended, and friends gave and received new-year's gifts, called Streps. On this day too the Romans above all things took care to be merry and divert themselves, and oftentimes such a scene of drunkenness was exhibited, that they might with propriety enough have distinguished it with the name of All-fools-day.

The Christians heretofore fasted on the first day of January, by way of opposition to the superstitions and debaucheries of the heathens.