Gennaro

Gennaro m

Italian: from Latin Januārius, a derivative of (mensis) Januārius January. The name of the month is derived from that of the god Janus, who was associated with doors (januae) and new beginnings; he was represented in sculpture as having two faces on a single head, one looking forwards and the other backwards. The name Januarius was borne by a large number of early saints, but the one most particularly associated with Italy was a bishop of Benevento beheaded at Pozzuoli under Diocletian in 304. His body was enshrined at Naples and he is the patron of that city. Phials of his blood are preserved at both Naples and Pozzuoli and are believed to liquefy regularly to this day.

Cognate: Spanish: Jenaro.