Cheshvan

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Cheshvan (חֶשְׁוָן, Standard Hebrew Ḥešvan, Tiberian Hebrew Ḫešwān, Ḥešwān, short for מַרְחֶשְׁוָן, Standard Hebrew Marḥešvan, Tiberian Hebrew Marḫešwān, Marḥešwān: from Akkadian waraḫsamnu, literally "eighth month") is the second month of the ecclesiastical year and the eighth month of the civil year on the Hebrew calendar. In the Bible it is called Bul. It is an autumn month of 29 days, except in years of 355 or 385 days in which it has 30 days.

Given the Akkadian etymology, it seems likely the מ and the ו were switched at some point in time. Since then, the first two letters מַר (mar) have been reinterpreted as the Hebrew word for bitter, alluding to the fact that the month has no holidays or fasts. However, the Ethiopian Jewish community celebrate Sigd on the 29th day of Cheshvan.

Months of the Hebrew Calendar

Tishrei | Cheshvan | Kislev | Tevet | Shevat | Adar | Nisan | Iyar | Sivan | Tammuz | Ab | Elul

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