Month

Month

A month is a unit of time, used with calendars, which was first used and invented in Mesopotamia, as a natural period related to the motion of the Moon; month and Moon are cognates. The traditional concept arose with the cycle of moon phases; such months (lunations) are synodic months and last approximately 29.53 days. From excavated tally sticks, researchers have deduced that people counted days in relation to the Moon's phases as early as the Paleolithic age. Synodic months, based on the Moon's orbital period, are still the basis of many calendars today, and are used to divide the year.

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Famous quotes containing the word month:

    ... we shall never become an immense power in the world until we concentrate all our money and editorial forces upon one great national daily newspaper, so we can sauce back our opponents every day in the year; once a month or once a week is not enough.
    Susan B. Anthony (1820–1906)

    January, month of empty pockets!... Let us endure this evil month, anxious as a theatrical producer’s forehead.
    Colette [Sidonie Gabrielle Colette] (1873–1954)

    It is ill to marry in the month of May.
    Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso)