Name of month

Etymology

English

In the month…

leden

led – ice

because it’s really cold in this month, hence the ice

January

v lednu

únor

nořit se – to bob

the ice in the rivers and ponds would bob up and down

February

v únoru

březen

bříza – birch

birch trees start to sprout their blossoms early in the spring

March

v březnu

duben

dub – oak

the oak trees begin to grow their leaves

April

v dubnu

květen

květina – flower

flowers begin to blossom during this time

May

v květnu

červen

červený – red

many of the red flowers as well as fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and cherries come out during červen

June

v červnu

červenec

červený – red

červenec continues with more red flowers and fruits

July

v červenci

srpen

srp – sickle

this is the beginning of the harvest, when the sickle is used to gather grain and other food products are collected from the fields

August

v srpnu

září

za říje – during the rut

deer begin their rut in this season, mating before the winter cold

September

v září

říjen

říj – rut

deer continue their rut

October

v říjnu

listopad

listy padají – leaves fall

though leaves fall typically a bit earlier, but this point the trees are typically bare

November

v listopadu

prosinec

siný (Old Cz.) – gray blue

nights are longest in December – the deep gray blue of the night sky is extra apparent at this time

December

v prosinci