Unusual Facts and Trivia About February
by Many facts about the month of February presented for all to explore.
Okay…already, I know it is the month of valentines and chocolate hearts, but what else do you know about this often blustery month with the fewest days in the modern calendar year? Here are some interesting trivia tidbits about the blustery often harsh 2nd month of the year on the modern calendar.
February is the second month, and has 28 days, except on Leap Years when it has 29 (2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012).
It is named after the Roman god Februus. The Latin root word februa means purification; and the Romans held their celebration of purification during the time of the month February. The Welsh originally called the second month of the year – “y mis bach” meaning the little month. During the time of Shakespeare it was called ‘Feverell’.
The flower of this month is a violet or sometimes a primrose and the birthstone is amethyst (which represents sincerity).
Three big holidays are held in February: Groundhog’s day (2nd), St. Valentine’s Day (14th) and President’s day (3rd Monday).
February is also Black History Month, a time used to celebrate the accomplishments of people such as George Washington Carver and Martin Luther King, Jr., Marion Anderson, Satchel Paige, Sojourner Truth and many more.
President Andrew Johnson was impeached on February 24th, 1868.
On February 25th, 1928, a U.S. federal government commission issued the very first Television Broadcast License.
On February 14th, 1928 the infamous Valentine’s Day Massacre took place in Chicago.
John Glenn (astronaut and US Senator) was the first man to orbit the earth on February 20th, 1962.
Japan successfully launched a satellite into orbit on February 11th, 1970, making it the world’s fourth space power.
There is an ancient legend that Augustus Caesar took a day from February and added it to August (the month named after him) in order to make it as long as the month names after Julius Caesar and that is how February ended up with 28 days.
Catholics celebrate February 2nd as a religious holiday known as Candlemas Day (the Christian Festival of Lights).
Some Famous people were February babies:
Aaron Burr – American politician & traitor…b. 2/6/1756
Felix Mendelssohn – musical composer… b. 2/3/1809
Ronald Reagan – US President, Governor & Hollywood Actor… b. 2/6/1911
Dwight Moody – religious evangelist…b. 2/5/1837
Sinclair Lewis – Nobel Prize-winning novelist… born February 7, 1885.
William Henry Harrison, 9th President of the United States… b. February 9, 1773
Abraham Lincoln — 16th President of the United States… b. 2/12/1809
Charles Darwin — British naturalist … b. 2/ 12/1809
Thomas A. Edison — American inventor … b. 2/11/1847
OTHER FEBRUARY Holidays
Canadian Flag Day is February 15th
Dominican Republic Independence Day is February 27th
February is Library Lover’s Month
February is National Chocolate Lover’s Month
February 3rd is Wear Red Day
February 9th is G I Joe’s birthday in 1964
February 21st is — Love Your Pet Day
February 28th is National Tooth Fairy Day
SHROVE TUESDAY is a Christian Holiday and on 2/16/2010 it will be celebrated marking the 40 days before Easter
ASH WEDNESDAY is another Christian Holiday and on 2/17/2010 it will be celebrated, always the day after SHROVE DAY.
PURIM is celebrated on February 28th
February such an interesting little month we sometimes ignore except for Valentine’s Day dinners and presents.
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