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February is the second month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars. The month has 28 days in common years or 29 in leap years, with the 29th day being called the ''leap day''. It is the first of five months not to have 31 days (the other four being April, June, September, and November) and the only one to have fewer than 30 days.
February is the third and last month of meteorological winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, February is the third and last month of meteorological summer (being the seasonal equivalent of what is August in the Northern Hemisphere).
Derived from the Latin word, the Roman month was named after the Latin term , which means "purification", via the purification ritual held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. They were added by Numa Pompilius about 713 BC. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the decemvirs (c. 450 BC), when it became the second month. At certain times February was truncated to 23 or 24 days, and a 27-day intercalary month, Mercedonius, Intercalaris, was occasionally inserted immediately after February to realign the year with the seasons.
February observances in Ancient Rome included Amburbium (precise date unknown), Sementivae (February 2), Februa (February 13–15), Lupercalia (February 13–15), Parentalia (February 13–22), Quirinus, Quirinalia (February 17), Feralia (February 21), Caristia (February 22), Terminalia (festival), Terminalia (February 23), Regifugium (February 24), and Agonalia#Agonium Martiale, Agonium Martiale (February 27). These days do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.
Under the reforms that instituted the Julian calendar, Intercalaris was abolished, leap years occurred regularly every fourth year, and in leap years February gained a 29th day. Thereafter, it remained the second month of the calendar year, meaning the order that months are displayed (January, February, March, ..., December) within a year-at-a-glance calendar. Even during the Middle Ages, when the numbered Anno Domini year began on March 25 or December 25, the second month was February whenever all twelve months were displayed in order. The Gregorian calendar reforms made slight changes to the system for determining which years were leap years, but also contained a 29-day February.
Historical names for February include the Old English language, Old English terms Solmonath (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne's designation Hornung. In Finnish, the month is called , meaning "month of the pearl"; when snow melts on tree branches, it forms droplets, and as these freeze again, they are like pearls of ice. In Polish language, Polish and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, respectively, the month is called or (), meaning the month of ice or hard frost. In Macedonian language, Macedonian the month is (), meaning month of cutting (wood). In Czech, it is called , meaning month of submerging (of river ice).
In Slovene language, Slovene, February is traditionally called , related to icicles or Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Candlemas. This name originates from , written as in the ''New Carniolan Almanac'' from 1775 and changed to its final form by Franc Metelko in his ''New Almanac'' from 1824. The name was also spelled , meaning "the month of cutting down of trees".
In 1848, a proposal was put forward in ''Kmetijske in rokodelske novice'' by the Slovene Society of Ljubljana to call this month (related to ice melting), but it did not stick. The idea was proposed by a priest, Blaž Potočnik. Another name of February in Slovene was , after the mythological character Vesna.
Having only 28 days in common years, February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon. Using Coordinated Universal Time as the basis for determining the date and time of a full moon, this last happened in 2018 and will next happen in 2037. The same is true regarding a new moon: again using Coordinated Universal Time as the basis, this last happened in 2014 and will next happen in 2033.
February is also the only month of the calendar that, at intervals alternating between one of six years and two of eleven years, has exactly four full 7-day weeks. In countries that start their week on a Monday, it occurs as part of a common year starting on Friday, in which February 1st is a Monday and the 28th is a Sunday; the most recent occurrence was 2021, and the next one will be 2027. In countries that start their week on a Sunday, it occurs in a common year starting on Thursday; the most recent occurrence was 2015 and the next occurrence will be 2026. The pattern is broken by a skipped leap year, but no leap year has been skipped since 1900 and no others will be skipped until 2100.
*February’s full moon is called Full moon, Snow Moon
*Its birth flowers are the violet (''Viola (plant), Viola''), the common primrose (''Primula vulgaris''), and the Iris (plant), Iris.
*
Its birthstone is the amethyst. It symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity.
*The zodiac signs for the month of February were Aquarius (astrology), Aquarius (until February 18) and Pisces (astrology), Pisces (February 19 onwards).
*Its animal is the Tiger (zodiac), tiger, the third of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac, Chinese Zodiac.
The Straight Dope: How come February has only 28 days?
* {{Authority control February, Months, *02
Pronunciation
"February" is pronounced in several different ways. The beginning of the word is commonly pronounced either as or ; many people drop the first "r", replacing it with , as if it were spelled "Febuary". This comes about by analogy with "January" (), as well as by a dissimilation effect whereby having two "r"s close to each other causes one to change. The ending of the word is pronounced in the US and in the UK.History
Derived from the Latin word, the Roman month was named after the Latin term , which means "purification", via the purification ritual held on February 15 (full moon) in the old lunar Roman calendar. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. They were added by Numa Pompilius about 713 BC. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the decemvirs (c. 450 BC), when it became the second month. At certain times February was truncated to 23 or 24 days, and a 27-day intercalary month, Mercedonius, Intercalaris, was occasionally inserted immediately after February to realign the year with the seasons.
February observances in Ancient Rome included Amburbium (precise date unknown), Sementivae (February 2), Februa (February 13–15), Lupercalia (February 13–15), Parentalia (February 13–22), Quirinus, Quirinalia (February 17), Feralia (February 21), Caristia (February 22), Terminalia (festival), Terminalia (February 23), Regifugium (February 24), and Agonalia#Agonium Martiale, Agonium Martiale (February 27). These days do not correspond to the modern Gregorian calendar.
Under the reforms that instituted the Julian calendar, Intercalaris was abolished, leap years occurred regularly every fourth year, and in leap years February gained a 29th day. Thereafter, it remained the second month of the calendar year, meaning the order that months are displayed (January, February, March, ..., December) within a year-at-a-glance calendar. Even during the Middle Ages, when the numbered Anno Domini year began on March 25 or December 25, the second month was February whenever all twelve months were displayed in order. The Gregorian calendar reforms made slight changes to the system for determining which years were leap years, but also contained a 29-day February.
Historical names for February include the Old English language, Old English terms Solmonath (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne's designation Hornung. In Finnish, the month is called , meaning "month of the pearl"; when snow melts on tree branches, it forms droplets, and as these freeze again, they are like pearls of ice. In Polish language, Polish and Ukrainian language, Ukrainian, respectively, the month is called or (), meaning the month of ice or hard frost. In Macedonian language, Macedonian the month is (), meaning month of cutting (wood). In Czech, it is called , meaning month of submerging (of river ice).
In Slovene language, Slovene, February is traditionally called , related to icicles or Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Candlemas. This name originates from , written as in the ''New Carniolan Almanac'' from 1775 and changed to its final form by Franc Metelko in his ''New Almanac'' from 1824. The name was also spelled , meaning "the month of cutting down of trees".
In 1848, a proposal was put forward in ''Kmetijske in rokodelske novice'' by the Slovene Society of Ljubljana to call this month (related to ice melting), but it did not stick. The idea was proposed by a priest, Blaž Potočnik. Another name of February in Slovene was , after the mythological character Vesna.
Patterns
Having only 28 days in common years, February is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon. Using Coordinated Universal Time as the basis for determining the date and time of a full moon, this last happened in 2018 and will next happen in 2037. The same is true regarding a new moon: again using Coordinated Universal Time as the basis, this last happened in 2014 and will next happen in 2033.
February is also the only month of the calendar that, at intervals alternating between one of six years and two of eleven years, has exactly four full 7-day weeks. In countries that start their week on a Monday, it occurs as part of a common year starting on Friday, in which February 1st is a Monday and the 28th is a Sunday; the most recent occurrence was 2021, and the next one will be 2027. In countries that start their week on a Sunday, it occurs in a common year starting on Thursday; the most recent occurrence was 2015 and the next occurrence will be 2026. The pattern is broken by a skipped leap year, but no leap year has been skipped since 1900 and no others will be skipped until 2100.
Astronomy
February meteor showers include the Alpha Centaurids (appearing in early February), the Virginids#March Virginids, March Virginids (lasting from February 14 to April 25, peaking around March 20), the Delta Cancrids (appearing December 14 to February 14, peaking on January 17), the Omicron Centaurids (late January through February, peaking in mid-February), Theta Centaurids (January 23 – March 12, only visible in the southern hemisphere), Virginids#Eta Virginids, Eta Virginids (February 24 and March 27, peaking around March 18), and Virginids#Pi Virginid, Pi Virginids (February 13 and April 8, peaking between March 3 and March 9).February symbols
*February’s full moon is called Full moon, Snow Moon
*Its birth flowers are the violet (''Viola (plant), Viola''), the common primrose (''Primula vulgaris''), and the Iris (plant), Iris.
*Its birthstone is the amethyst. It symbolizes piety, humility, spiritual wisdom, and sincerity.
*The zodiac signs for the month of February were Aquarius (astrology), Aquarius (until February 18) and Pisces (astrology), Pisces (February 19 onwards).
*Its animal is the Tiger (zodiac), tiger, the third of the 12-year cycle of animals in the Chinese zodiac, Chinese Zodiac.
Observances
''This list does not necessarily imply either official status nor general observance.''Month-long observances
* In Catholic tradition, February is the Month of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. * American Heart Month (United States) * Black History Month (United States, Canada) * National Bird-Feeding Month (United States) * National Children's Dental Health Month (United States) * Season for Nonviolence: January 30 – April 4 (International observance) * List of Month-long observances#February, Turner Syndrome Awareness Month (United States)Non-Gregorian observance
''(All Baha'i, Islamic, and Jewish observances begin at the sundown prior to the date listed, and end at sundown of the date in question unless otherwise noted.)'' *List of observances set by the Bahá'í calendar *List of observances set by the Chinese calendar *List of observances set by the Hebrew calendar *List of observances set by the Islamic calendar *List of observances set by the Solar Hijri calendarMovable observances
*Food Freedom Day (Canada): Date changes each year *Safer Internet Day: First day of second week *National Day of the Sun: (Argentina) Date varies based on province First Saturday *Ice Cream for Breakfast Day First Sunday *Mother's Day (Kosovo) *Super Bowl Sunday (United States) First Week of February (first Monday, ending on Sunday) *Doppelganger Week *World Interfaith Harmony Week First Monday *Constitution of Mexico, Constitution Day (Mexico) *List of food days#February, National Frozen Yogurt Day (United States) First Friday *National Wear Red Day (United States) Second Saturday *International Purple Hijab Day Second Sunday *Autism Sunday (United Kingdom) *Children's Day (Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue, Tokelau, Cayman Islands) *Mother's Day (Norway) *World Marriage Day Second Monday *Meal Monday (Scotland) Second Tuesday *National Sports Day (Qatar) Week of February 22 *National Engineers Week (U.S.) Third Monday *Family Day (Canada) (provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.) *President's Day, President's Day/Washington's Birthday (United States) Third Thursday *Global Information Governance Day Third Friday *Family Day (Canada), Yukon Heritage Day (Canada) Last Friday *International Stand Up to Bullying Day Last Saturday *Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, Open That Bottle Night Last day of February *Rare Disease DayFixed observances
*February 1 **Mauritius#Holidays and festivals, Abolition of Slavery Day (Mauritius) **Air Force Day (Nicaragua) **Federal Territory Day (Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya, Malaysia) **Heroes' Day (Rwanda) **Imbolc (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, and some Neopaganism, Neopagan groups in the Northern hemisphere) **Lammas (some Neopaganism, Neopagan groups in the Southern hemisphere) **Memorial Day of the Republic (Hungary) **National Freedom Day (United States) *February 2 **Anniversary of Treaty of Tartu (Estonia) **Constitution Day (Philippines) **Day of Youth (Azerbaijan) **Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (or Candlemas) (Western Christianity), and its related observances: ***A quarter day in the Christian liturgical calendar (due to Candlemas) (Scotland) ***Celebration of Yemanja#Brazil, Yemanja (Candomblé) **Groundhog Day (United States and Canada) ***Marmot Day (Alaska, United States) **Inventor's Day (Thailand) **List of food days#February, National Tater Tot Day (United States) **World Wetlands Day *February 3 **The Day the Music Died, Anniversary of The Day the Music Died (United States) **Communist Party of Vietnam Foundation Anniversary (Vietnam) **Day of the Virgin of Suyapa (Honduras) **Heroes' Day (Mozambique) **Martyrs' Day (São Tomé and Príncipe) **Setsubun (Japan) **Veterans' Day (Thailand) *February 4 **Day of the Armed Struggle (Angola) **Independence Day (Sri Lanka) **Rosa Parks Day (California and Missouri, United States) **World Cancer Day *February 5 **Crown Princess Mary's birthday (Denmark) **Kashmir Solidarity Day (Pakistan) **Liberation from the Alberoni Occupation, Liberation Day (San Marino) **National Weatherperson's Day (United States) **Runeberg's Birthday (Finland) **Unity Day (Burundi) *February 6 **International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation **Ronald Reagan Day (California, United States) **Sami National Day (Russia, Finland, Norway and Sweden) **Waitangi Day (New Zealand) *February 7 **Independence Day (Grenada) *February 8 **Parinirvana Day (some Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhist traditions, most celebrate on February 15) **Prešeren Day (Slovenia) **Propose Day *February 9 **List of food days#February, National Pizza Day (United States) **Public holidays in Lebanon, St. Maroun's Day (Maronite Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, public holiday in Lebanon) *February 10 **Feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck (Public holiday in Malta) **Fenkil Day (Eritrea) **National Memorial Day of the Exiles and Foibe (Italy) *February 11 **112 (emergency telephone number)#European 112 Day, 112 day (European Union) **Armed Forces Day (Liberia) **Day of Revenue Service (Azerbaijan) **Evelio Javier Day (Panay Island, the Philippines) **Feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes (Catholic Church), and its related observance: ***World Day of the Sick (Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church) **Inventors' Day (United States) **National Foundation Day (Japan) **Youth Day (Cameroon) *February 12 **Darwin Day (International observance, International) **Georgia Day (Georgia (U.S. state)) **List of awareness days#February, International Day of Women's Health **Lincoln's Birthday (United States) **National Freedom to Marry Day (United States) **Red Hand Day (United Nations) **List of awareness days#February, Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day (Canada) **Union Day (Myanmar) **Youth Day (Venezuela) *February 13 **Children's Day (Myanmar) **World Radio Day *February 14 **List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union#List of U.S. states, Statehood Day (Arizona, United States) **List of U.S. states by date of admission to the Union#List of U.S. states, Statehood Day (Oregon, United States) **Presentation of Jesus at the Temple (Armenian Apostolic Church) **V-Day (movement) (International observance, International) **Valentine's Day (International observance, International) ***Singles Awareness Day *February 15 **Candlemas (Eastern Orthodox Church) **International Duties Memorial Day (Russia, regional) **John Frum Day (Vanuatu) **Liberation Day (Afghanistan) **National Flag of Canada Day (Canada) **List of food days#February, National I Want Butterscotch Day (United States) **Parinirvana Day (most Mahayana Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhist traditions, some celebrate on February 8) **First Serbian Uprising, Serbia's National Day **Statehood Day (Serbia) **Susan B. Anthony Day (United States) **The ENIAC Day (Philadelphia, United States) **Total Defence Day (Singapore) *February 16 **Day of the Shining Star (North Korea) **Act of Independence of Lithuania, Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day (Lithuania) *February 17 **Independence Day (Kosovo) **Random Acts of Kindness Day (United States) **Public holidays in Libya, Revolution Day (Libya) *February 18 **National Democracy Day (Nepal) **Dialect Day (Amami Islands, Japan) **Independence Day (Gambia) **Kurdish Students Union Day (Iraqi Kurdistan) **Wife's Day (Iceland) *February 19 **Armed Forces Day (Mexico) **Brâncuși Day (Romania) **Commemoration of Vasil Levski (Bulgaria) **Flag Day (Turkmenistan) **Shivaji, Shivaji Jayanti (Maharashtra, India) *February 20 **List of people killed during Euromaidan, Day of Heavenly Hundred Heroes (Ukraine) **Thomas Roy#Special days, Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day **World Day of Social Justice *February 21 **International Mother Language Day **Language Movement Day (Bangladesh) *February 22 **Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter (Roman Catholic Church) **Independence Day (Saint Lucia) **Founder’s Day (Saudi Arabia) **Scientology holidays, Celebrity Day (Church of Scientology) **Scouts' Day, Founder's Day or "B.-P. day" (World Organization of the Scout Movement) **List of food days#February, National Margarita Day (United States) **World Thinking Day (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) *February 23 **Mashramani-Republic Day (Guyana) **Meteņi (Latvia) **List of food days#February, National Banana Bread Day (United States) **National Day (Brunei) **Red Army Day or Day of Soviet Army and Navy in the former Soviet Union, also held in various former Soviet republics: ***Defender of the Fatherland Day (Russia) ***Defender of the Fatherland and Armed Forces day (Belarus) **Emperor's Birthday (Japan) *February 24 **Dragobete (Romania) **Engineer's Day (Iran) **Flag Day in Mexico **Independence Day (Estonia) **Thailand National Artist, National Artist Day (Thailand) **Sepandārmazgān or "Women's Day" (Zoroastrian, Iran) *February 25 **Armed Forces Day#Dominican Republic, Armed Forces Day (Dominican Republic) **''Kitano Tenman-gū, Kitano Baika-sai'' or "Plum Blossom Festival" (Kitano Tenman-gū, Kitano Tenman-gū Shrine, Kyoto, Japan) **Meher Baba#Legacy, Meher Baba's birthday (followers of Meher Baba) **Memorial Day for the Victims of the Communist Dictatorships (Hungary) **National Day (Kuwait) **People Power Revolution, People Power Day (Philippines) **Public holidays in Suriname, Revolution Day (Suriname) **Soviet Occupation Day (Georgia) *February 26 **Liberation Day (Kuwait) **Public holidays in Azerbaijan, Day of Remembrance for Victims of Khojaly massacre (Azerbaijan) **National Wear Red Day (United Kingdom) **Saviours' Day (Nation of Islam) *February 27 **Anosmia Awareness Day (International observance) **Doctors' Day (Vietnam) **International Polar Bear Day **Majuba Day (some Afrikaners in South Africa) **Marathi Language Day (Maharashtra, India) **Public holidays in the Dominican Republic, Independence Day (Dominican Republic) **Anti-Bullying Day (Canada) *February 28 **Public holidays in Armenia, Day of Remembrance for Victims of Massacres in Armenia (Armenia) **Andalusia Day (Andalusia, Spain) **Kalevala Day (Finland) **National Science Day (India) **Peace Memorial Day (Taiwan) **Teachers' Day (Arab states) *February 29 **Bachelor's Day (tradition), Bachelor's Day (Republic of Ireland, Ireland, United Kingdom) **List of food days#February, National Frog Legs Day (United States)References
Further reading
* Anthony Aveni, "February's Holidays: Prediction, Purification, and Passionate Pursuit," ''The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003), 29–46.External links
The Straight Dope: How come February has only 28 days?
* {{Authority control February, Months, *02