lustro = 5 years

Question

What is the etymological explanatioin for lustro, meaning 5 years'

Answer 1

En español:

Un lustro o quinquenio es un periodo equivalente a 5 años.

Etimológicamente proviene del latín lustrum que quiere decir limpio, puro (la palabra española "lustre" proviene de este vocablo), y se refiere a la ceremonia de la Lustración (purificación) que se celebraba cada 5 años y era la más importante de la Roma primitiva. En ella se celebraban una serie de ritos y una comida. Todos los pater familiae (los patricios) estaban obligados a asistir y el que no lo hiciera perdía sus derechos ciudadanos hasta la próxima lustración. Un castigo muy importante, puesto que se perdía hasta el derecho a pleitear.

Answer 2

Blame the Romans.

From Wikipedia:

Lustrum, in ancient Rome, was originally a sacrifice for expiation and purification offered by one of the censors of Rome in the name of the Roman people at the close of the taking of the census, which took place every five years. The name came to mean a period of five years, in the same way that a decade is a period of ten years.

Answer 3

Muchas gracias, Heidira

Answer 4

As I said, it is from Wikipedia, which is a great source of information. Not perfect, and not 100% reliable, but then, is anything'

Answer 5

Many thanks James. Is there a book of Spanish etymology from which this is taken or one which you would recommend?

Jonathan