Cheshvan
Cheshvan / חשון (short for Marche Swan / מרחשון ) is the second month after the " bourgeois " Jewish calendar and the eighth month after the " religious " calendar. The length of the month is variable, that is, it can take both 29 and 30 days. According to the Gregorian calendar of Cheshvan begins in mid-October. The 1st of Cheshvan is the second new moon ( " Roš CHODES ").
" Marche swan " comes from the Akkadian (W) Arah šamnu and means simply " Eighth month ", indicating that at the time of acquisition Akkadian month names in the Jewish tradition during the Babylonian exile still the old Judaic calendar was in use, in which the beginning of the month of Nisan is. In the tradition of " Mar" was misunderstood or reinterpreted so that the short form " Cheshvan " emerged as a prefix. "Mar", the Hebrew word for "bitter" was referring to the fact that no festival falls in this month. However, except for the Ethiopian Jews who celebrate the feast of the transfer of the Torah at Sinai on the 29th of the month.
In the Tanakh the term " ( Mar) Cheshvan " does not appear, instead, is the eighth month and "Monthly Bul " is mentioned (eg, 1 Kgs 6.38 LUT). The meaning of this name is unclear. Possible derivations refer to Belila / בלילה that prepare the fodder or Jevul / יבול, the crop yield.