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.