October (Roman month) October (Roman month) October (from Latin "octo", "eight") or mensis October was the eighth of ten months on the oldest Roman calendar. It had 31 days. October followed September (from "septem", "seven") and preceded November ("novem", "nine"). After the calendar reform that resulted in a 12-month year, October became the tenth month, but retained its numerical name, as did the other months from September through December. Some of the observances in October marked the close of the season for military campaigning and farming, which commenced in March ("Martius", "Mars' month"). October was under the guardianship "(tutela)" of Mars. The Romans
December (Roman month) fixed points of the month: the Nones (5th or 7th), the Ides (13th or 15th), and the Kalends (1st) of the following month. The Nones of December was the 5th, and the Ides the 13th. The last day of December was the "pridie Kalendas Ianuarias," "day before the Januarian Kalends". Roman counting was inclusive; December 9 was "ante diem V Idūs Decembrīs", "the 5th day before the Ides of December," usually abbreviated "a.d. V Id. Dec." (or with the "a.d." omitted altogether); December 24 was "IX Kal. Ian.", "the 9th day before the Kalends of Ianuarius," on the Julian calendar