The Almanac for February 2010

February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the old Roman calendar. January and February were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar, since the Romans originally considered winter a monthless period. They were added by Numa Pompilius about 700 BCE. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the decemvirs (c. 450 BCE), when it became the second month. At certain intervals February was truncated to 23 or 24 days and a 27-day intercalary month, Intercalaris, was inserted immediately after February to realign the year with the seasons. Under the reforms that instituted the Julian calendar, Intercalaris was abolished, leap years occurred regularly every fourth year (after a few years of confusion), and in leap years February gained a 29th day. Thereafter, it remained the second month of the calendar year, meaning the order that months are displayed (January, February, March, …, December) within a year-at-a-glance calendar. Even during the Middle Ages, when the numbered Anno Domini year began on March 25 or December 25, February continued to be the second month whenever all twelve months were displayed in order. The Gregorian calendar reforms made slight changes to the system for determining which years were leap years and thus contained a 29-day February.

Historical names for February include the Anglo-Saxon terms Solmonath (mud month) and Kale-monath (named for cabbage) as well as Charlemagne’s designation Hornung. In Finnish, the month is called helmikuu, meaning “month of the pearl”; when snow melts on tree branches, it forms droplets, and as these freeze again, they are like pearls of ice. In Ukrainian, the month is called лютий meaning the month of ice or hard frost.

From The Farmer’s Almanac

February 1st – 2nd: Mow to Retard Growth, Quit Smoking, Start Diet to Lose Weight
February 3rd – 4th: Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Entertain Friends, Host a Party
February 5th: Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Get Married, Entertain Friends, Host a Party
February 6th – 7th: Can Fruits and Vegetables, Mow to Retard Growth, Prune Trees, Jar Jams/Jellies
February 8th – 10th: Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Harvest, Wean, Quit Smoking, Potty Train, Wash Windows, Start Diet to Lose Weight, Advertise to Sell, Buy a Car
February 11th – 12th: Mow to Retard Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Prune Trees, Wean, Potty Train
February 13th – 15th: Cut Firewood, Mow to Increase Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Dig Holes, Wean, Potty Train, Paint, Host a Party
February 16th – 17th: Cut Firewood, Cut Hair to Increase Growth, Mow to Increase Growth, Castrate Farm Animals, Dig Holes, Wean, Potty Train, Wax Floors, Get Married, Start Diet to Gain Weight
February 18th – 19th: Bake, Cut Firewood, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes
February 20th – 21st: Cut Firewood, Cut Hair to Increase Growth, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes, Wax Floors, Paint, Get Married, Advertise to Sell, Buy Clothes, Buy a Home
February 22nd – 23rd: Cut Firewood, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes, Host a Party, Travel for Pleasure
February 24th – 25th: Bake, Cut Firewood, Cut Hair to Increase Growth, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes, Wax Floors, Get Married, Start Diet to Gain Weight
February 26th – 27th: Cut Firewood, Mow to Increase Growth, Dig Holes, Paint, Get Married, Entertain Friends, Host a Party, Travel for Pleasure
February 28th: Dry Fruits and Vegetables, Cut Hair to Retard Growth, Mow to Retard Growth, Dig Post Holes, Quit Smoking, Paint, Start Diet to Lose Weight, Ask for Loan, Entertain Friends, Host a Party

Moon Phases, February 2010

Last Quarter – February 5, 6:48 p.m. EST
New Moon – February 13, 9:51 p.m. EST
First Quarter – February 21, 7:42 p.m. EST
Full Moon – February 28, 11:38 a.m. EST

Some Days of Note in February from ThinkQuest

February 1 is Serpent Day
February 2 is Purification Day
February 3 is Cordova Ice Worm Day
February 4 is Create A Vacuum Day
February 5 is Disaster Day
February 6 is Lame Duck Day
February 7 is Charles Dickens Day
February 8 is Kite Flying Day
February 9 is Toothache Day
February 10 is Umbrella Day
February 11 is White Tee-Shirt Day and Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk Day
February 12 is National Plum Pudding Day
February 13 is Get A Different Name Day and Dream Your Sweet Day
February 14 is Ferris Wheel Day and National Heart to Heart Day
February 15 is National Gum Drop Day
February 16 is Do A Grouch A Favor Day
February 17 is Champion Crab Races Day
February 18 is National Battery Day
February 19 is National Chocolate Mint Day
February 20 is Hoodie Hoo Day
February 21 is Card Reading Day
February 22 is Be Humble Day
February 23 is International Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day
February 24 is National Tortilla Chip Day
February 25 is Pistol Patent Day (Samuel Colt)
February 26 is National Pistachio Day
February 27 is International Polar Bear Day
February 28 is Public Sleeping Day
February 29 is National Surf and Turf Day