February really is a funny month. First, it is not thirty days, not thirty-one days; rather it is either twenty-eight or twenty-nine days. It’s as though the designers of our calendar just couldn’t decide what to do with all of those extra hours left over from other months.
In the United States, we’ve decided that major (presidential) elections will be held only in those years when February has twenty-nine days; thus, giving us one more day to listen to political speeches, name calling, person praising, etc.
And, have you noticed that the February with only twenty-eight days has the same date/week-day structure as the following March? If the 4th is on Tuesday in February, the 4th is on Tuesday in March. Not so, when February has twenty-nine days. The 29th day throws a wrench into that configuration.
Birthdays on the 29th of February are hard to come by. Those of you born on February 29 get to decide how old you are. Are you the actual number of years you’ve lived on earth – or is your real age only ¼ of those years – according to your birth date?
National holidays and other special days of observance are many. MANY! Ask your “old friend” Web, and you can find out just what we celebrate. The favorite of many people is that red-letter day celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. Most of us have forgotten that this is a celebration honoring Saint Valentine who lived in the third-century. His martyrdom came about because this Roman priest defied the Emperor Claudius II. He married young lovers in secret, and apparently defying the emperor in such a way warranted death. Evolving from that tragic event, it became a Christian feast day and, centuries later, is commonly a celebration to share and show ones love for those people in our lives that we care about.
Legends abound about this celebration – too many to report here, but if you’re interested, just go to friend Web and ask why we yearly celebrate this day. Of course, the one thing we do know is that in it’s evolution, the day has become a largely secular holiday with flowers, cards, and other gifts. That it is celebrated around the world is of interest to me. Valentine’s Day was first widely celebrated in the United States in
the 1840s, the year that mass-produced, commercial cards came on the scene.
Of course, these cards were originally hand made progressing to today’s cards, easily recognized as mass-produced. Adults, however, are always pleased to receive the cards made by the children who love them.
President’s Day is another really important day for Americans. The day floats each year from one date to another. With this day, we honor two of our most important presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Some of us are old enough to remember that we celebrated and honored Lincoln and Washington on their respective birthdays; Lincoln, on February12 and Washington on February 22. Then, in 1968 some one (in his/her infinite decision-making power) decided that Washington’s birthday should be celebrated on the third Monday of February – and why not throw in Lincoln’s birthday, as well – giving us one more three-day weekend. I often wonder who gives a thought to those two giants of our history on “their” day. Except for the car sales, the blow-out merchandise sales, etc.
So many other celebrations take place during February. Groundhog Day on February 2, Black History Month (all month), Mardi Gras on February 17, Ash Wednesday (a floating date due to the changing date of Easter.
Groundhog Day is an interesting celebration, originating in 1886. Crowds gather early in the morning in Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, on February 2 of each year, where they celebrate the arrival of Punxsutawney Phil making his annual weather prediction. If the groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter; otherwise, spring is arriving early. How many “Phils” have there been in all of these years.
Lunar New Year, occurring on February 17 of this year, is a moveable celebration. Generally, it typically occurs between January 21 and February 20 on the Gregorian calendar, as it is based on the lunar cycle—specifically the second new moon after the winter solstice. This marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, signifying the start of spring and a major cultural festival across Asia and its diaspora.
This celebration that migrated to the U.S. (as is the custom of diaspora) is celebrated primarily in Asia. It is a time for family reunions, honoring ancestors, and ushering in good fortune, featuring traditional foods and red decorations. Each year, Daughter #1 fills small, red envelopes covered with gold decorations with some dollar bills to give to her young friends for this celebration. The celebration often lasts for several days. The Lunar New Year is rooted in ancient agrarian traditions, honoring deities and ancestors for a good harvest. The calendar, establishing the date via the moon’s cycles, has been in use for over 3,000 years.
The date of Ash Wednesday changes annually
because it is directly tied to the date of Easter, which is a “movable feast” determined by the lunar calendar. Ash Wednesday is always held 46 days before Easter Sunday, which is set for the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox; it shifts yearly, moving Ash Wednesday with it.
Here are a few celebrations to add to our list – whether or not we understand their meanings, the reason for their beings, and where they came from.
February 13 is Galentine’s Day, National Cheddar Day,
Also when the 13th falls on Friday – Whoo-Hoo!! Ghosts and goblins and other scary beings are said to roam about bringing terror to the populous. And, it’s not even Halloween!
We already talked about February 14 being Valentine’s Day. It is also National Organ Donor Day.
Are you a single person? Your day is February 15.
Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday is also moveable and depends on the date of Ash Wednesday, being the Tuesday just before Ash Wednesday of each year.
Random Acts of Kindness Day is celebrated annually on February 17th to encourage spreading compassion through small, unexpected gestures that create a positive, community-wide impact. Founded in 1995 by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, it serves as a global reminder to make kindness the norm. I think it should be Random Acts of Kindness all year! There are so many ways to fulfill this day’s goal.
Ramadan begins on or about February 18 (a moveable feast) and is a month of fasting, worship, service, communal gathering, and spiritual development. Fasting in Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Since there are 12 lunar months superimposed over 12 solar months, Ramadan “moves back” about 11 days per solar year.
International Polar Bear Day on February 27 brings notice and awareness to the desperate plight of our earth’s polar bears caused by the effect of climate change on their habitat. The intent is to bring to the front the conservation status of polar bears, particularly focusing on protecting mothers and cubs in their dens. Organized by Polar Bears International, the day highlights the threats from climate change, encourages reducing carbon footprints, and coincides with the time denning families are most vulnerable.
.Other month-long celebrations are American Heart Month, National Cancer Prevention Month, and National Chocolate Month – a favorite of mine, if I could only eat chocolate.
Now, let us not forget the annual sports event – the Super Bowl. Thousands – dare I say millions – of football fans go to or watch this game either from the stands or on TV. Apparently, the 2026 Super Bowl was the sixtieth super Bowl. Personally, I do not watch the Superbowl on TV. I do not pay attention to sporting events. I have no interest in this “awe-inspiring” event. Rather, I use that day to shop for groceries or any other thing from stories that are practically empty of customers.
As I’ve said, February is a funny little month, crammed with celebrations, not being able to make up its mind about how many days it should have. And, yet, it is one of my favorite months.
Be Safe and Be Well.
The Cranky Crone
Thoughtful comments are always appreciated.
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