Date Published 01 February 2021
1. The name of February comes from the ancient Roman purification festival of Februarius which took place on February 15.
2. The Anglo-Saxons called it 'solmonath' (the month of mud or wet sand).
3. In the French Revolutionary Calendar, introduced in 1793, part of February was included in the month known as Pluviôse (rainy).
4. According to Bede, writing in the 8th century, it was known as the 'month of cakes' because this was when gifts of cake were given to the gods.
5. Before Julius Caesar's calendar reform of 46BC, February was the only month with an even number (28) of days. All the others had 29 or 31.
6. The only Shakespeare play to mention February is Much Ado About Nothing.
7. In it, he refers to 'such a February face, So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness.'
8. February is the only month that can pass without a full moon. This last happened in 1999 and will happen again next year.
9. The birthstone of February is the amethyst; the birth flower is the violet or common primrose.
10. In 1712, thanks to mistakes in calendar reform, Sweden and Finland had 30 days in February.
Happy February Everybody.
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