Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November;
All the rest have thirty-one,
Excepting February alone
Which hath but twenty-eight, in fine,
Till leap year gives it twenty-nine.

Source: Old saying

15
Presidents' Day

& Susan B. Anthony's Birthday (1820)

16

17

18

23
Mardi Gras

Holidays for February

A Holiday is any day on which people lay aside their ordinary duties and cares. The word comes
from the Anglo-Saxon halig daeg, or holy day. At first, holidays honored some sacred
event or holy person.

Visit Annie's Begin the Day with Me Page

Events: Black History Month is observed each February. Learn about the history of African
Americans and their struggle for freedom.
February is Black History Month & International Friendship Month

Groundhog Day ~ February 2nd

People often refer to the second day of February as Groundhog Day. According to many old stories,
the groundhog, or woodchuck, comes out of its burrow on February 2 to look for its shadow.
If the sun is shining and the groundhog can see its shadow, it goes back to sleep for a while,
and winter is not over. If the groundhog cannot see its shadow, it begins its springtime activities.

Boy Scout Day ~ February 8th ~ Boy Scouts of America Incorporated, 1910.
Edison's Birthday ~February 11th ~ Thomas A. Edison's Birthday (1847)
Lincoln's Birthday ~ February 12th ~ Abraham Lincoln's Birthday (1809)
World Marriage Day ~ The second Sunday in February

Valentines Day ~ February 14th
People in most Western countries celebrate Valentine's Day on February 14. Many schools hold
Valentine's Day parties when the children make special decorations for their classrooms. Old and
young alike exchange Valentine cards with their friends. The custom of exchanging greetings on
Valentine's Day goes back hundreds of years. Scholars have found records of Valentine
notes that date from the 1400's.

February 15th ~ Susan B. Anthony's Birthday (1820)

President's Day ~~ Always the Third Monday in February!

Two of America's greatest leaders, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, were born during
February. Washington's birthday is celebrated as a federal holiday on the third Monday in
February. Some states also honor Lincoln and other American Presidents on this day
and call the holiday President's Day.

Washington's Birthday ~ February 22nd ~
George Washington's Birthday (1732). Third Monday in February.
Also observed as Presidents Day and Washington-Lincoln Day.

Floral Design Day is February 28th ~
Visit: Annie's "Flowers and their Meanings" Page

Information about February

February is the second month of the year. The name was derived from the Latin word februa,
signifying the festivals of purification celebrated in ancient Rome during this month. February
was originally 29 days long, but one day was later transferred to the month of August. It is
now 28 days long in ordinary years, 29 days long in leap years. 2000 is a leap year.

February is usually cold and stormy in the northern half of the world. But sunny days now and
then show that spring is not far off. The air is often crisp and clear. People in the
Southern Hemisphere enjoy midsummer weather during February.

~February Symbols~

Many people consider the primrose the special flower for February.
The amethyst is the birthstone for February.

February is the second month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar, which is used in
almost all the world today. It is also the shortest month. According to legend, the first calendar
of the ancient Romans had only 10 months. But in about 700 B.C., the ruler Numa Pompilius added
January and February. February became the last month of the Roman year. The month takes its
name from the Latin word februare, meaning to purify. The Romans purified themselves in February
to prepare for festivals at the start of the new year. Later, the Romans moved the beginning
of the year from March to January, making February the second month.

February usually had 28 days until the time of the Roman statesman Julius Caesar. Caesar gave it
29 days in standard years and 30 every four years. According to tradition, the Roman emperor
Augustus took one day off February to add to August, the month named after him. Today,
February has 28 days in standard years and 29 in leap years.

Leap year has 366 days, or one more day than an ordinary year. A leap year occurs in every year
that can be divided evenly by four, except the years that mark the even hundreds, such as 1500.
The only century years that are leap years are those that can be divided evenly by 400, such as
1600 and 2000. Leap years were added to the calendar to make the calendar year nearly the same
as the solar year, which is the time it takes for the sun to pass the vernal equinox twice.
The extra day is added to the end of February and occurs as February 29 once every four years.

According to tradition, the Roman ruler Numa Pompilius added January and February to the
calendar. This made the Roman year 355 days long. To make the calendar correspond approximately
to the solar year, Numa also ordered the addition every other year of a month called Mercedinus.
Mercedinus was inserted after February 23 or 24, and the last days of February were moved to the
end of Mercedinus. In years when it was inserted, Mercedinus added 22 or 23 days to the year.

Other Related Pages by Annie:
Annie's February Verse A Day Page
Annie's February Cards Page
Annie's February Bible Verses Page
NEW - Annie's "A Psalm for Each Day" Page ~For February 2010~
Annie's "Sample of Annie's Desktop for February" Page
Annie's February Memory Verses Page
Jake's "February Word Puzzle" Page
Annie's "February Fun & Free Stuff" Page
Annie's February Holidays Page
Updated - Annie's Month of February Page

Continue on to next Month: Annie's "Month of March" Page

Annie's Home Page

Annie's Featured Holiday Page

Annie's Holiday Page

Annie's Featured Page

Annie's "Featured Page" Page

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