The Months in Pontic Greek

The months of the year in Pontus were associated with farming activities and days of the Holy calendar. For instance July was called Hortotherts because in July each year they collected grass (in Greek, horto means grass and therizo means harvest). November was called Aergitess after Saint George (Ayios Georgios) because Saint George was celebrated on the 3rd of November each year in the Orthodox church.    

English  Pontic  Origin
January Kalantarts (Καλαντάρ'τς) From kalanta which means calendar, to signify the new year.
February Kountouros (Κούντουρος) From the Greek konti and oura which means short tail to describe the shorter month. In medi-evil Greek, kunduros means crop-tailed. The term kundura (loaned from Greek) in Ottoman Turkish means a simple shoe without a toe cap.* 
March Marts (Μάρ'τς) Same as Latin
April Aprilts (Απριλ'τς) Same as Latin
May Kalominas (Καλομηνάς) Was regarded as the best month of the year ( from "kalos minas" which means good month)
June Kerasinos (Κερασινός) From kerasia (cherries) as it was during this month that cherries ripened in Pontus. 
July Hortotherts (Χορτοθερ'τς) Hortotherts from horto which means grass because they collected grass during this month.
August Alonarts (Aλωνάρτς) From the Greek alonizo (threshing or harvesting) because it was during this month that fruit and other produce was harvested. . 
September Stavrites (Σταυρίτες) Named after the cross (Stavro). September 14 is the feast of the exaltation of the Cross. 
October Trigominas (Τρυγομηνάς) From trigos which means vine harvesting. 
November Aergittess (Αεργϊτες) Named after Hagios Georgios (Saint George). Nov 3 is the holy day of Saint George.
December Christougenarts (Χριστουγενάρ'τς) Or Christianarts, the month of Christmas

 

It's worth noting that in some parts of Pontos some of the months were different in name to these given above.

* A possible connection to the shoe theory may be through the “Kozelshchansk” Icon of the Mother of God which mentions a special shoe made for the child depicted in the icon. Read here

Related reading: 
The twelve months of the year in 850 langages and dialects. 

 

Related Articles

Dialect Lesson #1

Dialect Lesson #2

The Names of Professions in Pontus