February is the shortest month of the year. February is just 28 days long, unless it’s a leap year, when an extra day is tacked on to the end of the month. Despite its brevity, February is a notable month, and the following are four interesting facts about the second month of the year.
1. The name “February” comes from the Latin word “februa,” which means “to cleanse.” The ancient Romans celebrated a festival of purification and atonement known as Februalia, and historians believe that celebration, which lasted a month, occurred around the time of year that the month of February now takes place.
2. February is arguably the most unique month on the calendar thanks to the phenomenon of the leap year. According to NASA, the Earth takes approximately 365 days and six hours to orbit the sun and approximately 24 hours (one day) to rotate on its axis. NASA notes that most years are rounded down to 365 days, though that does not erase the extra six hours in each year. So approximately every four years an extra day is added to the calendar in February. That will actually take place in 2024, which should excite anyone whose birthday happens to be Feb. 29.
3. Speaking of February 29, many a notable event has taken place on that unusual date over the years. On Feb. 29, 1720, the Queen of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora, abdicated her throne in favor of her husband, who became King Frederick I a little less than a month after his wife’s abdication. On Feb. 29, 1940, actress Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award. And on Feb. 29, 1996, the Siege of Sarajevo officially ended, marking the end of a conflict that had lasted 1,425 days.
4. Though it’s typically only 28 days, February still provides many opportunities to celebrate. February is Black History Month in both the United States and Canada, and has recently been observed in Ireland and the United Kingdom as well. February also features Mardi Gras and “Fat Tuesday,” the final, and often festive, feast day before the Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. American history buffs also have plenty of reasons to celebrate in February, as the month marks the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12), Susan B. Anthony (Feb. 15) and George Washington (Feb. 22), among others.
