Interesting Facts About FEBRUARY, the Second Month

It is the second day of the second month, how quaint! Knowing more about this month – which has the shortest number of days, has an extra day almost every four years, and has a love holiday celebrated on one of its days – is definitely in order. Do brace yourself as we regale you with more interesting facts about this month.

The Name – February

It was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, with regard to the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 (Full moon) in the old lunar Roman Calendar.

Read More: 10 Facts You May Not Know About VALENTINE’S DAY

How It Came To Be a Month

February, along with January were the last two months to be added to the Roman calendar. According to this calendar, winter was considered a monthless period, thus only consisting of 10 months.

The month of February was added, along with January about 713 BCE by Numa Pompilius so that the calendar would equal a standard lunar year of 355 days. February remained the last month of the calendar year until the time of the Decemvirs (c. 450 BCE), when it became the second month.

Read More: What Has January Got in Common with Two-Faced Janus?

At certain intervals, February was shortened to either 23 or 24 days in the Roman calendar, in which a 27 day intercalary month – Intercalaris – was inserted after February to realign the year with the seasons, due to the time difference between the lunar year (which was faster) and the solar year.

During the Julian calendar reform, the intercalary month was abolished and leap years were added every fourth year, thus February gained a 29th day in leap years.

Even during the Middle Ages, when the year began on March 25, the second month was February whenever all twelve months were displayed in order.

Quick Facts About February

1. February starts on the same day of the week as March and November in common years (that is, years that are not leap years)
2. During leap years, February starts on the same day of the week as August, ends on the same day of the week as October every year, and on the same day of the week as January in common years only.
3. Once every six years and twice every 11 years, the month of February will have only four full seven-day weeks, where the first day of the month starts on a Sunday and ends on a Saturday.
4.  In leap years, it is the only month that ends on the same weekday it began. This means February 29 2016 will be a Monday.
5. Having only 28 days in common years, it is the only month of the year that can pass without a single full moon. This last happened in 1999 and will next happen in 2018.

See Also: Why Do We Have LEAP YEARS?