July

July was originally the fifth month of the year and was called ‘Quintillus’, which simply means fifth. In 450BC, when January and February were added, it became the seventh month.

The name was changed to July, after the Roman emperor Julius Caesar, who was born on July 12th 100BC. Caesar was a very successful politician and army general, and had many military victories. He led the Roman invasion of England in 55BC when the Romans introduced many things to the wild people of England, including politics, sewers, baths, straight roads, and a lot of vocabulary (but not so much grammar!).

July’s flower is the water-lily, and its birthstone is a ruby.