This year our Ten Things series is focusing on each month in turn. The Ten Things may include facts about the month, momentous events that happened, personal things, and any other idiocy I feel like – just because I can. So here are …
Ten Things about February
- Was originally named after the Roman purification ritual Februa held on 15th.
- It is always the shortest month.
- Pagans celebrate Imbolc, halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox on 1st.
- Whereas Christians have Candlemas on 2nd.
- St Valentines Day is, of course, on 14th.
- Most years Chinese New Year falls in February; this year it is on Tuesday 5th.
- In Anglo-Saxon this is Sol-monath (cake month – sounds good to me!).
- Shrove Tuesday & Ash Wednesday fall in February in most years, unless as this year Easter is especially late when they are just in March.
- February is the only month which is variable in length, having the extra day every four years (except century years); there are 97 Leap Months every 400 years.
- Birthstone: Amethyst
