Write to Win: If you could change one month’s name, what would it be, and why? (Round 1)
- This week, contestants tell us how they would rename the months of the year; from Bridgerzest to Mamori, the answers are riveting
- Our writing contest starts with 10 students, who are eliminated one at a time based on your votes and YP editors’ picks – who will you choose?
If you could change one month’s name, what would it be, and why? Photo: Shutterstock Read the responses to this week’s Write to Win prompt, and choose the answer you like most. Based on your votes and YP editors’ picks, we will eliminate one contestant.
Sheep: If I could rename one month in the calendar year, I would rechristen January to Renewal. This name reflects the idea of starting afresh and setting new goals for the year ahead. It symbolises the opportunity for growth, change and a new beginning as we embark on a fresh chapter.
Cat: I would change the name of December and call it Duratus. This is the Latin word for “harden”. As we all know, December is a very cold month, and many people in the past have lost their lives to hypothermia, frostbite and many such issues.
Dog: February is a mouthful word that sounds bothersome and muddled. It deserves something gentle and easy, like a breath of relief, to showcase the hopeful feeling of getting through wintry times. Both elegant and swift, February should be replaced with the Latin word venire, which means “to come”, signalling the coming of spring.
Panda: May should be called Arboruary. Arbor is the Latin word for tree. A tree starts off nondescript throughout the year. However, in May, it begins to blossom. I feel like I am an arbor. I only really start to blossom towards the end of the school year.
Tiger: I would change August to Bridgerzest. Often undervalued, August is the perfect bridge between summer’s warmth and winter’s breeze. It also embodies the final chance of bliss before the exciting birth of a new school year. Therefore, Bridgerzest vividly captures this astounding transition and peak period enjoyment before a busy schedule kicks in.
Boar: I would change the name of December to Dormir, which is to rest or sleep in Latin. This symbolises how wintertime is a period of dormancy for nature. It contrasts with the month of April, whose name means “to open” in Latin, referencing nature’s rejuvenation in spring.
Elephant: I would name May Mamori. The name blends amor, which means love, and maia, who is the Greek goddess of growth and mothers. Mamori not only symbolises a mother’s love but also means memory in Latin. It aligns with Mother’s Day in May and reminds you to cherish your mum.
Lion: The Latin word perseverentia, meaning perseverance, is an excellent choice for renaming July. January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings. But let’s be honest: how many people have accomplished their New Year’s goals? I want to give a midyear reminder never to give up; hence, I renamed July Perseverentia.
Bunny: I would change July to Laemedimo. Lae is the Latin word for joy, med indicates the middle, and mo is short for animo, which means thoughtfulness. This name marks the year’s midpoint, inviting reflection on our achievements and aspirations, fostering a sense of joy and thought for the next six months ahead.
Monkey: I would change October to Melinoe, the name of the goddess of ghosts. Melinoe is the embodiment of the eerie shadows lurking in the night. Tying the month with the mysterious goddess would add a layer of dimension to the month often associated with Halloween and celebrating the supernatural.