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While February is known to be full of paper hearts and chocolate, it has a few things going for it, despite being the shortest month on the calendar. February isn’t just about love; it’s more well rounded than you think.
First off, let’s cover a little history of the second month in the year. February joined the calendar with January around 700 B.C. During the ancient Roman festival Lupercalia, celebrants used thongs made from goatskin in purification rituals, which took place during the month, earning it the name februarius.
February wasn’t always second. When Numa Pompilius first added February to the calendar in 700 BC, he placed it at the end of the calendar. That’s right; February was the last month on the calendar. The adjustment aligned the calendar with the lunar cycle. However, Roman superstition avoided even numbers so the calendar resulted in every month having 29 days except one – February. Numa Pomplius placed this unlucky, short month at the end of the year. And there, February remained for nearly 200 years when January and February moved to the beginning of the year.
Julius Caesar attempted to align the calendar with the solar season creating the Julian calendar. Under the current Gregorian calendar, the leap year functions differently. Leap years are divisible by four, with one exception. Centennial years must be divisible by 400.
February is the third month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the snowiest month of the year. It should be no surprise that the full moon in February is named the Snow Moon. Keep in mind, though, that since February is a short month, it sometimes doesn’t even have a full moon.
Interestingly, one of the earliest flowers to bloom in February is the primrose, which even blooms through the snow. It is also February’s birth flower.
If you are born in February, you are either an Aquarius or a Pisces astrologically. Both are water signs, Aquarius represented by the water bearer and Pisces represented by a pair of fish. Your birthstone is the pretty purple quartz called amethyst.
Five fast facts about February…
- Those born in February share their birthdays with: Norman Rockwell, James Michener, Chris Rock, Tomas Edison, Nina Simone, Rosa Parks, Alice Cooper, Garth Brooks and two beloved U.S. Presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
- There is a 1 in 1,461 chance of a leap day birthday.
- The Anglo-Saxons called February Sol-monath, meaning “cake month.” Though they offered cake to the gods in February, we suggest having cake with some friends. And of course, there is a cake holiday—National Carrot Cake day on the 3rd.
- February is derived from the Latin februo which means purity or to cleanse.
- Because February usually has 28 days, once every six years, it’s the only month to have four full 7-day weeks. In the years that aren’t leap years (otherwise known as common years), February and March start on the same day of the week.
There are many fun and delicious days to celebrate in February…
National Pizza Day on February 9th celebrates one of America's all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite.
National Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th, National Random Acts of Kindness Day grows in popularity. It is celebrated by individuals, groups, and organizations nationwide to encourage acts of kindness.
National Cherry Pie Day on February 20th. Some pie lovers will be eating their favorite pie during National Cherry Pie Day. Whether they eat it for breakfast, lunch or supper or a slice at every meal depends on just how much they love cherry pie!
It seems only right that we celebrate the cherry pie so close to Presidents Day as we all know the story (albeit untrue) of a young George Washington and the cherry tree. Cherries were, however, one of his favorite foods.
Everyone loves to talk about Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day, and the Super Bowl in February. However, the big news in February is that pitchers and catchers report kicking off spring training for a new baseball season. What’s a truer sign of spring?