General Discussions

**Learning Newbie** · 09-18-2008, 06:36 PM

Janitor and January share a common root, and it was more clear what that was and how they're related, a century ago. How did janitors come to be named this way?

**vangogh** · 09-18-2008, 06:54 PM

I had a guess that both related to the Roman god Janus, though I didn't really know what that connection might be.

Since I didn't want to wait for you to give an answer I decided to look it up and now do know the connection, but I'll refrain from sharing so as not to spoil it for anyone else who wants to play along.

Good question by the way.

**juliensimon** · 09-18-2008, 07:40 PM

I HAD to look it up as well. I couldn't just leave with this question unanswered.

I now do know as well and feel just a little less dumb

**serandfae** · 09-18-2008, 10:36 PM

I have to claim ignorance, but before I look it up, I'll guess that a janitor is a worshiper of Janus, just looking at the word roots. Let's see if I'm right.

tim

**juliensimon** · 12:59 PM

I have one too:

If sex is such a natural phenomenon, how come there are so many books on how to do it?
Nobody will ever win the battle of the sexes.
There's too much fraternizing with the enemy. -- Henry Kissinger

**aldor** · 09-19-2008, 02:49 PM

Janus was the Roman God of gateways hence the name January for going from one year to the next, janitors are keepers of the the gates.

**Learning Newbie** · 09-19-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldor

Janus was the Roman God of gateways hence the name January for going from one year to the next, janitors are keepers of the the gates.

On "the internet," they would say "For the win!"

Janitors were the first ones to arrive at a building in the morning, and open the doors for everyone.

As Tim said, Janitor and January share a common word root. Aldor pointed out the main connection, with the secondary being that January is the first month and Janitors are the first to arrive.

Anyone want to guess at what Musketeers have to do with Mosquitoes?

**serandfae** · 09-19-2008, 04:35 PM

What's your point, John?

Why doesn't a musketeer have a musket? The one who coined the term musketeer must've been drinking a great deal of muscatel, thus sending any mosquito who dared to dine straight to bug Hades.

tim

**juliensimon** · 09-19-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Learning Newbie

Anyone want to guess at what Musketeers have to do with Mosquitoes?

http://www.jstor.org/pss/181298

http://pinkdalmation.blogspot.com/20...musketeer.html

**webmister77** · 04:22 PM

In old Barbarian cults they worshipped a god named Janito.
This Janito really enjoyed being a god and did everything the Supreme God named NorFunn forbid.
Janito slept with human women (and men), drank all day long, used every drug available at that time.

Eventually NorFunn had enough and punished Janito for eternity.
Now this next part may become a little disgusting so you might stop reading.

Every drink or drug Janito would take would make him sick and would make him throw up.
His punishment was that he had an uncontrolable urge to clean the floor up with his tongue....

Now Louix XIV (of France) had servants who had to clean the mirrors at Versailles by licking them. Louix, a mythology buff, named these servants janitors, after the god Janito. These were the 1st janitors in history.

**jv17** · 09-25-2008, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aldor

Janus was the Roman God of gateways hence the name January for going from one year to the next, janitors are keepers of the the gates.

nice answer i guess you made a good research on this..