Ukrainian Month Names: a colorful, nature-based calendar

January : Січень (“Sih-chen”)
Named for the tiny, sharp, wind-driven snowflakes that feel like they are
cutting the skin of your face.

February Лютий  (“Lyoo-tiy”)
лютий means “furious”- a reference to the final storms of winter

March Березень
  (“Byer-eh-zyen“)
This is the month when the fresh leaves of spring appear on the березень-birch
trees.

April Квітень
  (“Kvih-ten”)
“Flowers”
 (“Trah-ven”)
“Grass”

May Травень

 (“Trah-ven”)

“Grass”

June Червень
 (“Chyer-ven“)
Named after Porphyrophora polonica, the Polish cochineal scale insect. These bugs were
once common in the sandy soils of Central Europe. The larvae form subterranean
cysts on the roots of host plants, which were harvested in pre-industrial times to
make an economically important reddish-purple dye.

July Липень
 (“Lee-pen”)
When linden trees bloom, producing a ubiquitous lime-honeysuckle scent.

August Серпень
 (“Syer-pen”)
Harvest month- this word means “sickle”, seen in the Soviet hammer and sickle
emblem.

September Вересень
 (“Vyer-eh-sen“)
Named for the purple erica flowers sold in street kiosks in early fall.

October Жовтень
(“Zhyov-ten”)
“Yellow”- for the yellow leaves of autumn.

November Листопад
 (“Listo-pahd“)
“Falling leaves”

December грудень (“Grood-en”)
Named for груда- the small lumps of frozen soil that form
as temperatures fall.