Calends

The Kalends (Latin kalendae ) were in the Roman calendar always the first day of the month.

Etymology

Etymologically derives " kalendae " from the proclamation of ritual ( " kalo " ) in the context of the goddess Juno Covella. Grammatically, they only come in the majority before ( have a Pluraletantum ) and are one of the few Latin words with a "K ". Of them, the German word " calendar " ( on Latin calendarium "List of kalendae " ) is derived.

In most daughter languages ​​of Latin, the term kalendae has disappeared in its original meaning, in contrast, has obtained in isolated regions (eg in some Italian dialects and in Romansh, cf, derived from the Chalandamarz in Graubünden).

Importance

The Kalends were in addition to the Nones, Ides and Terminalia one of the four fixed holidays which had each month of the Roman calendar. These four holidays designated originally the quarter moon ( Kalends: new moon, Ides: full moon, nonene and Terminalia: increasing or decreasing half moon).

Redensartliches

The uncommon expectant upscale German phrase " to the Greek Kalends " means something like " to St. Nimmerlein " - that is, never - and is a direct translation of the same major Latin phrase "ad Kalendas Graecas ". Your sense arises from the fact that the Greek calendar had no kalendae.