February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. It is the shortest Gregorian month and the only month with the length of 28 or 29 days. The month has 29 days in leap years, when the year number (eg 2004) is a multiple of four (but not of 400). In other years the month has 28 days.

February begins in Aquarius and ends in Pisces.

In the wheel of the year February begins at or near Lughnasadh in the southern hemisphere and a few days before the midpoint between summer solstice and autumn equinox. In the northern hemisphere it has a corresponding position with respect to Imbolc, between winter solstice and spring equinox.

History

February 30 has occurred three times in history.

February was named for the Roman god Februus, the god of purification. January and February were the last two months to be added to the calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. This change was made by Numa Pompilius about 700 BCE in order to bring the calendar in line with a standard lunar year. Numa's Februarius contained 29 days (30 in a leap year). Augustus is alledged to have removed one day from February and added it to August, (renamed from Sextilis to honor himself), so that Julius Caesar's July would not contain more days. However there is little historical evidence to support this claim.

February was nominally the last month of the Roman calendar, as the year originally began in March. At certain intervals Roman priests inserted an intercalary month, Mercedonius, after February to realign the year with the seasons.

Historical names for February include the Anglo-Saxon terms Solmoneth (sun month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne's designation Hornung.

Events

• In Ireland, February 1 is Imbolc, feast of St. Brigid (Secondary Patron of Ireland) and the first day of Spring. In the Irish Calendar the month is called Feabhra.
• February 2 is Candlemas and Groundhog Day
• February 12 is Lord Faust Birthday
• February 14 is St. Valentine's Day
• February 21 is Language Martyrs' Day celebrated by Bengali-speaking people
• February 21 is International Mother Language Day
• In the United States, February is Black History Month.

Trivia

• In February the Sun passes through zodiac constellations Capricorn and Aquarius.
• In common years February begins on the same day of the week as March and November.
• In leap years February begins on the same day of the week as August.
• The signs of the zodiac within the month of February are Aquarius and Pisces.

• February's flower is the primrose.
• February's birthstone is the amethyst.

See also

• Historical anniversaries

External link

• The Straight Dope: How come February has only 28 days? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_160.html)