December the 10th: Janus' Agonalia

This day is dedicated to Janus. Janus represents "the Beginning".

Symbols of Janus are the springs, the doors and the keys. In a broader sense, Janus represents the passage from a dimension to another, from a time to another, from a space to another through "gates" (Ianua). For this reason Janus is usually portrayed with doubled opposed faces, even if having a third face the common man cannot see.

The most common Janus' symbol is a couple of crossed keys: one gold and one silver key. These keys symbolize the possibility to open the past and the future: they also open the Ianua Coeli and the Ianua Inferi (this very complex topic will be discussed separately).

This symbol has been copied by the christian church and it can be very easily found in any church or in many pope's insigna and signs: many christians do not know to be in front of a symbol through which Janus "speaks".

Janus is however the "Begininng": in addition to the first month of the year (January), also the month's first day and the day's first hour are consecrated to Janus.

Remember Janus before begginning anything...