Janus and January By Ellie Blair

In ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus was the God of gates and doors.

The ancient Romans had a specific God who held the key, so to speak, to the metaphorical doors or gateways between what was and what is to come—the liminal space of transitioning out of one period of time and into something new.

It seems the ancient Romans had a God or Goddess for everything: Poseidon, God of the sea; Venus, Goddess of love and beauty; and Apollo, God of the sun. (Just to name a few. Other well-known Roman Gods include Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Neptune, Orcus, Ceres, Juno, Luna Diana, and Vesta.) And then there’s Janus, a lesser-known God, but arguably one of the most important.

In Roman mythology, Janus was the God of doors, gates, and transitions. Janus represented the middle ground between both concrete and abstract dualities such as life/death, beginning/end, youth/adulthood, rural/urban, war/peace, and barbarism/civilization.

Janus was known as the initiator of human life, transformations between stages of life, and shifts from one historical era to another. Ancient Romans believed Janus ruled over life events such as weddings, births, and deaths. He oversaw seasonal events such as planting, harvests, seasonal changes, and the new year.

According to Roman mythology, Janus was present at the beginning of the world. As the God of gates, Janus guarded the gates of heaven and held access to heaven and other Gods. For this reason, Janus was often invoked first in ancient Roman religious ceremonies, and during public sacrifices, offerings were given to Janus before any other deity. In fact, there is evidence that Janus was worshipped long before many of the other Roman Gods, dating all the way back to the time of Romulus (the founder and first ruler of Rome).

And if you’ve ever wondered how the month of January got its name, you have Janus to thank. As the Roman God of beginnings and transitions, Janus is the namesake of January, the first month of a new year.

What is unusual about the God Janus is his iconic image. As the God of transitions and dualities, Janus is portrayed with two faces—one facing the past, and one facing the future. He also holds a key in his right hand, which symbolizes his protection of doors, gates, thresholds, and other separations or openings between spatial boundaries. In ancient Rome, the symbol of the key also signified that a traveler has come to find safe harbor or trade goods in peace.

While most Roman deities have an equivalent in Greek mythology, there is no Greek God that serves as Janus’ counterpart. This can cause some confusion, leading people to wonder if Janus was a Greek or a Roman God. Greek myth does contain a character similar to Janus: Orthus, a two-faced dog. Similar to Janus, Orthus has one face looking to the past and one to the future. However, he didn’t have the same significance in ancient Greece as Janus did in ancient Rome.

Though the traditions and worship surrounding the Roman God Janus were practiced long ago, similar practices endure today. Many Jewish homes, for instance, display a Mezuzah on the doorway, following the commandment to “write the words of God on the gates and doorposts of your house.” Similarly, Christians often display a cross above the entrance to their home, and Muslims have specific rituals and greetings for entering a mosque. If you’re nonreligious, perhaps you display a meaningful photograph, picture, or symbol near your front door—a positive image or token that greets visitors to your home.

Because events like season changes, a new year or month, birthdays, births, deaths, marriages, and even starting a new job are, in a sense, doorways between the past and future, it’s beneficial to honour them: Reflect on what you’ve experienced, plan and set goals for the future, celebrate change and transformation. 

January is a beautiful month. It marks a beginning, an end, a transition. Here are some dates of note celebrating folklore of ancient times in Great Britain. 

January 1 

Hogamany New Years Celebration                 Scotland

It is believed that many of the traditional Hogmanay celebrations were originally brought to Scotland by the invading Vikings in the early 8th and 9th centuries

Mummers’ Plays and Sword Dancing          Northumberland & Durham

Traditional masked mimes dating from the 15th century in which a character is killed and then brought back to life, signifying the death of the Old Year and rebirth of the New Year.

January 6

Twelfth Day

The twelfth day after Christmas Day and the Old Calendar date for Christmas Day.

January 13

St. Hilary’s Day

Traditionally known as the coldest day of the year.

January 17 Wassaling             Orchards Carhampton and Roadwater, Somerset

Takes place on the Old Twelfth Night, when the wassailing party enters the orchards with a goodly amount of cider with which toast the trees and thus encourage a fruitful season.

The purpose of wassailing is to: 

Encourage the spirits to ensure a good harvest

Awaken the cider apple trees after their winter dormancy

Scare away evil spirits

Connect people more closely to nature and the turning of the seasons.

Last Tuesday In January  Fire Festival    Up Helly Aa. Lerwidk, Shetland Scotland

Held every year to celebrate the end of Yule. Over 900 colourfully dressed “guisers” follow the Jarl’s squad of Vikings and their longship through the darkened streets of the town to the burning site. Here the official ceremony ends in a spectacular blaze as 800 flaming torches are thrown into the galley.

About Ellie Blair: Ellie Blair has been walking the path of spirituality for over 35 years both in her personal and working life. She is a Reiki Healer, Massage Therapist, Writer, Life Coach, and Published Author. She studied Social Psychology before entering the world of Alternative Medicine/Holistic Healing and Wellbeing. This opened the doors to what she regards as her “Life's Journey”. She lived in Taos, New Mexico for 12 years where part of that life changing time was spent working at the World Heritage Native American Taos Pueblo with the Red Willow Tribal People. She aspires to use her healing gifts and writing skills at every opportunity for the Spiritual Growth and Wellbeing of others. She continues on her path of learning and personal growth, working always from a place of gratitude and integrity. 

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