The month of Maia
May is the fifth month of the year. It has thirty-one days. In early
Roman times, when the year began in March, May was the third month of
the year.
There are several stories about how this month was named. According to
one story, May was named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and
growth. Another story has it that May is short for majores, a Latin
word that means \”older men.” Some people think that the Romans held May
sacred to older men and that June was sacred to the juniores, or young
men.
People living in England long ago called this month Thrimilce. This
means \”to milk three times.” At this time of year, there was much new
grass. Cows had more to eat and gave more milk. So they could be milked
three times a day, instead of twice a day.
