A Short Month but Full of Fun

For the shortest month of the year, February is full of festive holidays and days to observe. The month is also Black History Month. Initially this remembrance was the second week in February and was name Negro History Week by historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926. This month is a time to study and learn about the rich and fascinating black culture.

Schools recognize the 100^th day of school in February with a variety of activities and lessons. This day varies in accordance with what day school begins. Be careful when you poke your head outside on February 2^nd as this is Groundhog Day. Everyone waits with anticipation to see what Punxsutawney Phil decides as our weather fate. While Phil probably does not have any psychic abilities, the original school of thought was that hibernating animals had a sense for when spring weather was approaching and would thus, leave their winter get-away to stretch in the new spring sun.

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Charles Dickens day is February 7^th. Birthday's to remember are February 11^th, Thomas Edison, 12^th Abraham Lincoln, 15^th Susan B. Anthony, 22^nd, George Washington. President's Day, celebrated the 3^rd Monday in February is used to celebrate both President Lincoln and Washington.

On February 18, 1930, Planet Pluto was discovered. In 2009, after new forms were discovered even farther away, Pluto was re-designated as a dwarf planet.

The two most celebrated holidays in February are Valentine's Day and Mardi Gras. Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14^th. Valentine history has ties to Europe in the 1400's when the Duke of Orleans was held captive. He wrote love poems to his wife. It wasn't until the 1700's that Valentine's started in America. Again, poetry was the way love was expressed. Writers or booklets that originated in England were used to ask for a lady's hand. There were also poems to answer the request for romance.

Mardi Gras celebration began as a way to celebrate with great feasts prior to the fasting season of lent. Originally called Carnival, the festivity began in Rome during the second century. In 2010, Fat Tuesday, the largest celebratory day is February 16^th. New Orleans hosts the largest Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S.

Every four years Leap Year is celebrated with February have an extra day. The 29^th becomes almost a mystical day with those born at that day joking that although 16, they are only four. But why do we have Leap Year? We add the extra day as a way to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth's revolution around the sun.

February holidays remind us that it isn't how long the month is, it is what we accomplish and celebrate in the time we have.

http://www.suelebeau.com/february.htm

http://www.patriotism.org/presidents_day/

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html