Besides Valentine’s Day, February also stands for Food, Friendship, and Fun. This CelebrationJoy piece covers February’s quotes, facts, birthdays, and trivia.
The word February has been derived from the word ‘februa’, which translates to purification and cleansing, adapted from the Roman ‘Festival of Purification’, and muses pre-Spring rituals. ‘Februo’ literally means ‘I purify by sacrifice’.
Valentine’s Day and February are like synonyms. We can even say that Valentine’s Day owns February! The month gets with itself all the lovey-dovey energy in this world. All you see and feel is love, hearts meeting (and breaking), roses, chocolates, and those sparkles in the eyes. But there’s more to it than just Valentine’s Day. This shortest month has a longer list of celebrations and holidays. So, don’t let a week of red satin, candy boxes restrict your festive moods; read the facts below, and have a month-long celebration.
February Quotes and Sayings
Freezing
cold winds,
biting chills, and
white snow fluffed hills
Valentines day, oh how gay!
presidents’ day is coming our way.
February, sweet and small, greatest month of all.”
― Eric Lies (28 Word Poem for February)
The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within.
― William C. Bryant
Late February, and the air’s so balmy sonowdrops and crocuses might be fooled into early blooming. Then the inevitable blizzard will come, blighting our harbingers of spring, and the numbed yards will go back undercover. In Florida, it’s strawberry season – shortcake, waffles, berries and cream will be penciled on the coffeshop menus.
― Gail Mazu
February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.
― Dr. J. R. Stockton
February makes a bridge, and March breaks it.
― George Herbert
February, when the days of winter seem endless and no amount of wistful recollecting can bring back any air of summer.
― Shirley Jackson
January is always a good month for behavioral economics: Few things illustrate self-control as vividly as New Year’s resolutions. February is even better, though, because it lets us study why so many of those resolutions are broken.
― Sendhil Mullainathan
The February born will find
Sincerity and peace of mind;
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they the Pearl (also green Amethyst) will wear.
― Anonymous
February Facts and Birthdays
The Many Names of February!
- In Old English terms, the Anglo-Saxons named February as ‘Solmonath’, which means month of cakes, mud-month, as the Gods were offered cakes in the February season.
- It was also called ‘Kale-monath’ or ‘sprout-kale’ by the Saxons, which is the name for cabbage and its sprouting.
- In Welsh, February is known as ‘y mis bach’, which translates to ‘the little month’.
- The second month is called ‘helmikuu’ in Finnish, which means ‘the month of pearl’, inspired from the snow falling on tree branches and the droplets freezing on them, metaphorical with the pearls of ice.
- About 400 years ago, during the Shakespearean time, this month was known as ‘Feverell’.
- In Newton’s time, which is like 300 years ago, it had changed to ‘Frbrueer’, which is where February has its latest derivation.
Interesting Facts
- Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14. In fact, this day iscelebrated around the world in different ways. For instance, Wales does it through love spoons, while Denmark does it through white roses or snowdrops.
- February is the month of water-bearer Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) and water sign Pisces (February 19 – March 20). Somepopular Pisceans are Albert Einstein, Rihanna, Steve Jobs, Kesha, Mary Kom, etc., while some popular Aquarians are Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Palin, Abraham Lincoln, Neymar, etc., spanning the fields from literature to entertainment.
- Amethyst is the birthstone of Aquarians.
- Viola plant (Violet) and the Primrose are the flowers for February.
- The month of February is the only month that can pass without a full moon, in common years. The next time we would witness such a scenario would be in 2018.
- In common years, February starts on the same day of the week as March and November, and on leap years, it starts with the same day of the week as August.
- This month celebrates the National Day of the Sun in Argentina.
- It is also known as the Black History Month, as it is the annual observance month in US, Canada, and UK, remembering African-American people and events.
- The games for this month are football and skipping. Football is not to be played in the regular style. This is played on a grand scale, where all the men come out on the street at a specific time. They would start the game after the church bell has rung.
- In Western Christianity, the first day of Lent is observed as Ash Wednesday, a day of fast. This occurs 46 days prior to Easter, and the earliest date it can occur is on the 4th of Feb. Some dates for Ash Wednesday are 22nd of February (2012), 13th of February (2013), 18th of February (2015), 10th of February (2016), etc.
- February is the American Heart Month, wherein awareness of heart diseases is raised, prevention measures are taken, and those suffering are treated.
- This entire month has been dedicated to chocolate! The month is celebrated as the National Chocolate Lovers Month.
- It is also celebrated as the National Bird-Feeding Month in the U.S, wherein they spread awareness about wild bird feeding.
- February is National Dental Health Month. This is done to arouse awareness about oral health.
Fun Facts
Feb 1
- National Chinese New Year
- National Freedom Day
- National Baked Alaska Day
Feb 2
- Groundhog Day
- Candlemas Day
- Heavenly Hash Day
Feb 3
- Martyrs’ Day
- Veteran’s Day in Thailand
- Heroes’ Day in Mozambique
Feb 4
- Facebook was founded on February 4, 2004.
- Independence of Sri Lanka
- World Cancer Day
Feb 5
- Constitution Day of Mexico
- National Weatherperson’s Day (U.S.)
Feb 6
- International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (United Nations)
- Waitangi Day in New Zealand
Feb 7
- Bob Marley’s birthday
- Tom Brokaw’s birthday
- Independence Day of Grenada(United Kingdom).
Feb 8
- Slovenian Cultural Holiday
- Charles Dickens’s birthday
- Ashton Kutcher’s birthday
Feb 9
- Carole King’s (singer and songwriter) birthday
- David Gallagher’s (actor) birthday
Feb 10
- New Delhi becomes the capital of India, in 1931.
- Cream Cheese Brownie Day
Feb 11
- National Foundation Day in Japan
- Thomas Edison’s birthday
Feb 12
- Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday
- Charles Darwin’s Birthday
Feb 13
- World Radio Day
- The Festival of Parentalia (Roman Empire) begins.
Feb 14
- St. Valentine’s Day
- Ferris Wheel Day
- National Organ Donation Day
- National Cream-filled Chocolates Day
Feb 15
- The first Teddy Bear was made, in 1903.
- Galileo’s (scientist) birthday
- National Gumdrop Day
Feb 16
- Kim Jong-il’s Birthday (North Korea)
- National Almond Day
Feb 17
- First weather satellite was launched, 1959.
- Michael Jordan’s (Basketball Player) birthday
Feb 18
- Crab-Stuffed Flounder Day
- Drink Wine Day
Feb 19
- Kissing Friday/Nippy Hug Day
- National Chocolate Mint Day
Feb 20
- National Cherry Pie Day
- Rihanna’s (Singer) birthday
Feb 21
- International Mother Language Day
- Sewing machine was invented by John Greenough, in 1842.
- The DNA molecule was discovered, in 1953.
Feb 22
- Independence Day in Saint Lucia
- George Washington’s Birthday
- National Margarita Day
Feb 23
- Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
- The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II wins the 33rd Golden Raspberry Awards
Feb 24
- Flag Day of Mexico
- Steve Jobs’ birthday
Feb 25
- People Power Revolution (Philippines)
- National Chocolate-Covered Nuts Day
Feb 26
- Liberation Day (Kuwait)
- National Pistachio Day
Feb 27
- The island of New Britain discovered in 1700.
- Dominican Republic Independence.
Feb 28
- National Chili Day
- National Chocolate Soufflé Day
Feb 29
- Leap Day.
- Surf and Turf Day
February Trivia
1. What February celebration is observed in both the US and Canada on February 2 each year?
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2. When did the tradition of observing Black History Month in the US began?
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3. Name the U.S. presidents who were born in the month of February?
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4. Which Roman mythological character is the son of Venus and Mars?
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5. Which Indian Prime Minister was born on February 29?
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6. When is Valentine’s Day celebrated in Japan?
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7. Who took one day from February and added it to July?
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8. In 1288, a law was passed that let women to propose marriage to men on 29th of February. Which was the country to do it?
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9. What are the odds of being born on a Leap Day?
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10. People born on 29th of February (Leap Days) are called ____?
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11. A building in New York shows a lit red heart on each St. Valentine’s Day. Which building is it?
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12. Which song contains the verse “but February made me shiver”?
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13. Every year, February ends the same day of the week as which other month?
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14. Chocolates are the second most gifted item on Valentine’s Day. Which is the first one?
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