Do you know why each month got its name? Some are named after Gods, others after Emperors, find out how each month got its name, what we celebrate in each month and most importantly, what Sparkling Wine best goes with each month.

January

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called January? This Month was named after the Roman God Janus, the God of doors because January is the door into a new year.

What Do We Celebrate in January?

• New Year’s Day – 1st
• Martin Luther King Day
• Winnie the Pooh Day – 18th
• Burns Night – 25th
• Australia Day – 26th

It is interesting to note that in the early version of the ancient Roman calendar, both January and February were not a part of it, it only had 10 months and they had 61 days in the winter that didn’t have a month, they were both later added in 700 DCE, but at the end of the calendar, it wasn’t until 450 BCE that they took their places at the start of our year.

Although January took its place at the start of the year, it was still 1 day short, it wasn’t until 46 BCE when one of Julius Caesar’s astronomers introduced Leap Years that it became the January we know today.

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in January is: Ducal – Sontia 2015 Brut Nature – Slovenia – Silver Forget Me Not

As this is a Brut Nature Sparkling Wine, I thought it would be a good way to start of the year, Brut Nature means that the Sparkling Wine has no added sugar, meaning fewer calories per glass.

Forget Me Not
A wine with a unique taste. There’s something very different about this wine making it stand out.

February

How Many Days? 28 – 29

Why Do The Numbers Vary? Every 4 years we have a Leap Year, which means there is 1 more day in that year than the typical 365 days.

Why Is It Called February? February doesn’t originate from a Roman God like January, but it still came from the Romans, it comes from the word Februa, which in the Roman times was a festival of purification where people would ritually wash.

What Do We Celebrate in February?

• Groundhog Day – 2nd
• World Nutella Day – 5th
• Charles Dickens Day – 7th
• Darwin Day – 12th
• St. Valentine’s Day – 14th
• Pancake Day

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in February is: Schlumberger – Rosé Klassik – Austria – First Date Trophy

As this is the month of Love, we need to go for a First Date Sparkling Wine, this is the First Date Trophy Winner from Schlumberger which is a Rosé.

First Date
The perfect wine to accompany that first date. Nothing too complex and not necessarily a wine that needs to pair with exact foods

March

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called March? March is older than both January & February, as it used to be the first month of the year in the Roman calendar, the month was named after Mars, the Roman God of War, the word March comes from the name Martius.

What Do We Celebrate in March? 

• St. David’s Day – 1st
• International Women’s Day – 8th
• Mother’s Day (UK)
• St. Patrick’s Day – 17th
• Spring Begins – 20th
• World Frog Day – 20th
• World Poetry Day – 21st
• Tolkien Day – 25th
• Piano Day – 29th

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in March is: Bolney Wine Estate – 2017 Cuvée Rosé – England – Spring Fling Trophy

Spring is in the air, so why not have it in your glass as well.

Spring Fling
Floral, blossom aromas and flavour that immediately hits the spot.

April

How Many Days? 30

Why Is It Called April? No one is sure why April is called what it is, but there are three main theories, two of them are from Latin words and one is that April was named after the Goddess Aphrodite, associated with love, beauty, passion, pleasure and procreation.

What Do We Celebrate in April?

• April Fool’s Day – 1st
• World Autism Awareness Day – 2nd
• International Children’s Book Day
• Good Friday
• Easter Day
• Earth Day – 22nd
• St. George’s Day – 23rd
• National Shakespeare Day – 23rd
• World Book Night – 23rd
• Penguin Day – 25th
• International Jazz Day – 30th

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in April is: F.lli Pisoni – TrentoDoc Pisoni Brut Millesimato – Italy – Creamy Trophy

We start the month out with a joke and end it with Jazz, but in the midst of this busy month we celebrate Easter, so that’s why I’ve gone for the Trophy Winner in the Creamy Category.

Creamy
A soft rounded wine that gives you a buttery/creamy experience of aromas and in taste.

May

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called May? May was named after the Greek Goddess of Earth called Maia.

What Do We Celebrate in May?

• May Day – 1st
• Star Wars Day – 4th – May The 4th Be With You
• National Bike to School Day
• National Doughnut Week
• Mother’s Day (US)
• National Children’s Day UK – 17th
• World Bee Day – 20th
• World Turtle Day – 23rd

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in May is: Motzenbäcker – Rosé Brut – Germany – Meditation Trophy

Sometimes you just need to take some time for yourself, however busy your life is, we’re coming up to halfway through the year, sit back and appreciate what you have achieved so far and what else you have to look forward to.

Meditation
An addictive wine for those special relaxing times. This wine will express itself more and more the longer it is opened and the longer it stays in your glass.

June

How Many Days? 30

Why Is It Called June? June is named after the Greek Goddess of marriage and childbirth, Juno, in Roman mythology she is the queen of the gods and Jupiter’s wife, in Greek mythology, she is known as Hera, a Goddess and Zeus’s wife.

What Do We Celebrate in June?

• World Milk Day – 1st
• World Environment Day – 5th
• Sausage Roll Day – 5th
• Cupcake Day – 13th
• Father’s Day
• Make Music Day – 21st
• Summer Begins – 2oth
• National Writing Day

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in June is: Fitz Sparkling Wine – Fitz Pink – England – Light & Fruity Trophy

Summer is coming and hopefully, the sun is shining, so to start off summer, I’ve chosen a Light & Fruity Sparkling Wine to start up the spree of Summer Cocktails filled with ripe fruit and moreish Sparkling Wine.

Light & Fruity
A light and easy to drink fruity wine.

July

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called July? Originally July was named Quintilis, meaning Fifth in Latin, to represent the fifth month as it was back then, but after the Death/Assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C. it was renamed July to honour him.

What Do We Celebrate in July?

• American Independence Day – 4th
• World Chocolate Day – 7th
• Bastille Day – 14th
• Global Tiger Day – 29th
• Harry Potter’s Birthday – 31st

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in July is: Raimes – Vintage Rose – England – Summer Days Trophy

It’s the middle of Summer, it’s the perfect time to pop open a Summer Days Sparkling Wine and enjoy the sunshine. This beautiful rosé will bring extra colour and brighten your already sun-filled days.

Summer Days
Does not have to be a complicated wine, will offer a refreshing and crisp tasting experience ideal for accompanying time spent in the sun/shade.

August

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called August? August also had another name, it was called Sextilis, which in Latin means sixth, but it was renamed to honour Augustus Caesar in 8 B.C

What Do We Celebrate in August?

• Yorkshire Day – 1st
• International Owl Awareness Day
• Sea Serpent Day – 7th
• International Cat Day – 8th
• Rice Pudding Day (US) – 9th
• World Lion Day – 10th
• Left Handers Day – 13th
• National Dog Day – 26th
• International Bat Night
• Summer Bank Holiday

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in August is: Lantieri – Franciacorta Satèn – Italy – Sea Breeze Trophy

 

It’s the hottest month of the year, most people dream about being by the seaside, sunbathing or splashing about in the water so what better time to enjoy a Sea Breeze Sparkling Wine than right now.

Sea Breeze
When you taste this wine you will imagine yourself standing on the beach and tasting those tiny sea drops in the air.

September

How Many Days? 30

Why Is It Called September? The rest of these months were all named from a Latin word, September was Septem, meaning seven.

What Do We Celebrate in September?

• Grandparents Day (US)
• Roald Dahl Day – 13th
• Talk Like A Pirate Day – 19th
• Autumn Begins
• U.N. International Day of Peace – 21st
• Recycle Week

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in September is: Ferrari Trento – Ferrari Perlé 2013 – Italy – Oaky & Toasty Trophy

It’s September, the sun is heading off to the Southern Hemisphere, it’s starting to get a little chilly, all you want to do is to get toasty by the fireplace how about enjoying an Oaky & Toasty Sparkling Wine to enhance the experience.

Oaky & Toasty
This wine will likely have been aged in oak barrels and have a toasty flavour

October

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called October? October was named Octo which in Latin translates to eight.

What Do We Celebrate in October?

• Coffee Day – 1st
• Grandparents Day (UK)
• World Dyslexia Awareness Day – 4th
• World Space Week – 4th – 10th
• World Teachers Day – 5th
• World Smile Day
• Trafalgar Day – 21st
• Apple Day
• World Opera Day – 25th
• Halloween – 31st

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in October is: Vina Štoka – Prima Teran Sparkling – Slovenia – Hint of Spice Trophy

 

As it is the month of Halloween and The Day of the Dead, you might want a spooky kick in your glass so you don’t get your socks scared off by ghosts, zombies and witches! So I recommend the Hint of Spice Trophy Winner.

Hint of Spice
This wine will offer a bit of a kick with a spicy tone.

November

How Many Days? 30

Why Is It Called November? November was called Novem meaning nine in Latin.

What Do We Celebrate in November?

• The Day of the Dead – 2nd
• Guy Fawkes Night – 5th
• National Saxophone Day – 6th
• Anti Bullying Week
• Remembrance Day – 11th
• Kindness Day – 13th
• Road Safety Week
• World Prematurity Day 17th
• Universal Children’s Day – 20th
• World Television Day – 21st
• World Hello Day – 21st
• Doctor Who Day – 23rd
• Thanksgiving
• Black Friday
• Buy Nothing Day
• St. Andrew’s Day – 30th

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in November is: Vina Kobal – Teranova Penina Tera – Slovenia – Fireworks Trophy

November the 5th, Guy Fawkes Night, the night you light bonfires and set off fireworks, so while watching them this year, experience them in your glass as well with a bottle of Vina Kobal, the Trophy Winner in the Fireworks category.

 

Fireworks
An intense and powerful wine that really bursts with flavours in the mouth.

December

How Many Days? 31

Why Is It Called December? December used to be Decem, meaning ten in Latin.

What Do We Celebrate in December?

• International Cheetah Day – 4th
• Jane Austen Day – 16th
• National Robin Day – 21st
• Winter Begins
• Christmas Eve – 24th
• Christmas Day – 25th
• Boxing Day – 26th
• New Year’s Eve – 31st

A great Sparkling Wine to enjoy in December is: Vinarstvo Rebula – Br’stovska Penina Teran – Slovenia – Winter Warmer Trophy

Christmas is coming, the Christmas tree is going up and needs to be decorated, millions of letters are being sent to Santa Claus and you need a glass of Sparkling Wine to warm you up on these cold joyous days.

Winter Warmer
Perfect on a winter’s evening sat in front of the fire, likely to be a fuller flavoured wine.

 

So we have the Latin language and the Romans to thank for the calendar we use today.

Thanks to eParenting and Wonderopolis for helping me find the facts and dates.