February
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Template:FebruaryCalendar2010 February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 28 days in regular years. In leap years February has 29 days. Three times in history a February 30 did occur.
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 removed one day from February and added it to August, renamed from Sextilis to honor himself.
February was nominally the last month of the Roman calendar, as the year originally begin 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 February
- 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 14 is St. Valentine's Day
- February 21 is Language Martyrs' Day celebrated by Bengali-speaking people
- February 21 is International Mother Language Day
Trivia
- In February the Sun passes through zodiac constellations Capricornus 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
| January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
af:Februarie
an:Frebero
ang:Solmónaþ
ar:فبراير
ast:Febreru
be:Люты
bg:Февруари
ca:Febrer
cy:Chwefror
da:Februar
de:Februar
et:Veebruar
el:Φεβρουάριος
es:Febrero
eo:Februaro
fr:Février
fy:Febrewaris
ga:Feabhra
ko:2월
hi:फ़रवरी
hr:Veljača
id:Februari
is:Febrúar
it:Febbraio
he:פברואר
jv:Februari
la:Februarius
lt:Vasaris
lb:Februar
hu:Február
nl:Februari
ja:2月
no:Februar
oc:Febrièr
pl:Luty
pt:Fevereiro
ro:Februarie
ru:Февраль
sq:Shkurt
simple:February
sl:Februar
fi:Helmikuu
sv:Februari
tl:Pebrero
tt:Febräl
tr:Şubat
ur:فروری
uk:Лютий
wa:Fevrî
zh:2月
