Did you know that the month of February comes from the Latin word februa, which means “to cleanse”? The month, named after the Roman Februalia, which was a month-long festival of purification and atonement. The Zodiac signs for February are Aquarius (January 20 – February 19) and Pisces (February 20 – March 20) and the February “Birth Flower” is both the violet, which signifies watchfulness, loyalty, and faithfulness and the primrose, which lets someone know you can’t live without them! Here are some additional fun facts about the month of February as stated in the “Old Farmer’s Almanac.”
- February is the only month to have a length of fewer than 30 days! Most years, the month has just 28 days but, if there are 29 days in the month, then it’s called a leap year just as we had in 2020.
- January and February were the last two months added to the Roman calendar as originally winter was considered a month-less period.
- Originally, February was made the last month of the calendar year; however, in 450 BC, the month was moved to the place that it holds today.
- February 2 is Groundhog Day, the day we find out whether winter will last six more weeks or call it quits early.
- February 7 this year is Super Bowl Sunday. This football classic game has traditionally been played on the first Sunday of the month of February.
- February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room, 16×18 ft. dirt-floor log cabin.
- This year, February 12 is also when we celebrate Chinese New Year. It is the Year of the Ox.
- February 14 is always Valentine’s Day, a day celebrated with love, chocolate, and flowers.
- February 15 honors Susan B. Anthony’s birthday – the great women’s rights leader.
- February 15 also is President’s Day this year, which is a federal holiday also known as Washington’s Birthday and is always celebrated on the third Monday in February. Washington’s actual birthday is February 22.
- February 16 is Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday” or Shrove Tuesday, which is the final feasting day before the Christian tradition of Lent begins on the following day, Ash Wednesday.
In addition to the above special dates, February is also African American History Month. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum all join our nation in paying tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American History.
Thanks to Patsy Zima for contributing this information.
