Most European countries use the names of the months of the Julian calendar. Ukrainian names are closely related to the life of the people, folk observations and signs.
Sichen
The first month of the year received this name thanks to the custom of chopping, chopping (sіkti) trees, preparing plots of land for sowing. Earlier, there were other names for January: jelly, snіzhen, triskun, lyutovіy, vognevik, prosinets.
Lutius
February got this name because of the strong, violent (luty) frosts and winds throughout the month. Other names have a similar nature of origin: winterbeard, kruten, kazybrіd. The ancestors of modern Ukrainians also called the third month of winter the low-water period, since it is located between winter and spring.
Berezen
In March, Ukrainians procured birch ash (birch), which was used to make glass, as well as birch sap. Hence the name of the month. Popular names for March: drip, sokovik, protalnik, polyuy, krasovik.
Kviten
In April, the earth begins to bloom, in synonyms, often associated with spring drops and melting snow: water, dzyurchalnik, lukavets, april, red.
Grass
Until the twentieth century, the month was called May in honor of the ancient goddess of spring Maya. In the last century, the month got its name due to the riot of herbs that is observed in the Ukrainian lands at this time. Folklore names of the month: pisennik, herbalist, thunderer.
Cherven
The first summer month owes its name to an insect called cochineal, or worm, from which red (Ukrainian chervona) paint was extracted in ancient times. In addition, there are other names for June: gedzen, crescent, rottenness, izok (konik), wormy month.
Lipen
In July, delicious linden honey is harvested on the territory of Ukraine. The honey collection period gave the name to the month. Popular names: bilets, planks, thunderstorms.
Serpen
The main harvesting phase takes place in August. In the old days, grains were stung with sickles, which gave rise to the name of the month. Popular names are also associated with the harvesting period: khlibochol, gorodnik, zhnivets, kopen, zoryanichnik, spasivets, barilnik, priberikha-pripasikha.
Veresen
September also got its name in Ukraine due to the flowering of a valuable melliferous plant - heather (heather in Ukrainian). Other names were also common among the people: howler, s_ven, zarevo, pokryynik, babske lito.
Zhovten
The origin of the name of October is not difficult to guess - at this time the foliage on the trees begins to actively turn yellow. The people called him mud, deciduous, frowning, heather, winter.
Leaf fall
The process of falling leaves from trees is reflected in the name of November. Other names of the month: brisket, padolist, leaf fall, bratchini.
Chest
When a severe frost hit, the dirt roads, soaked by autumn waters, froze and formed "breasts". This gave the name to the first month of winter. People called December jelly, lute, cold, frowning, bridge, coward.
