February 5, 2020
February – A Small but Jam-packed Month
By Eloise Graham
Three out of four Februarys only has 28 days. The fourth one has 29. Still, that is shy of the 30 or 31 days that all of the other months boast. February may be short, but activities, celebrations and holidays are crammed into this mighty month.
Super Bowl is played on the first Sunday of February, giving this Sunday the name of Super Sunday. This year Super Bowl LIV (54) is being played in Miami. The first thirty-some Super Bowls were played in January but with the expansion teams being added and more games being played, the Super Bowl has now found it place in February.
The Meteorologist Rodent from Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil, will let us know when our Spring will start. He makes his prediction on February 2 each year.
The Ninety-second Academy Award Winners are being announced on Sunday, February 9. Many people have Awards Parties in front of their TVs and watch the stars on the Red Carpet.
February 14 is a day of romantic celebration. Chocolates, roses and greeting cards are a mainstay of this day, Valentine’s Day. In 2019, chocolate and candy sales were $1.8 billion for Valentine’s Day.
President’s Day is celebrated the third Monday of February. This year it will be Monday, February 17. In 1879, an Act of Congress set a day aside to honor our First President of the United States. Originally this day was February 22, Washington’s birthday. But in 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act changed the date to the third Monday. Thus this date would include Lincoln’s birthday and recognition of all Presidents. President’s Day is the familiar and most common name but actually, it should be called Washington’s Day.
Mardi Gras will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 25. Mardi Gras, the parade/festival in New Orleans is the highlight and final celebration of a period called Festival. It ends at midnight on Tuesday night.
February 25, 2020 is also Shrove Tuesday, or Pancake Supper Day. This celebration takes place the day before the season of Lent: the six weeks prior to Easter.
Ash Wednesday this year is Wednesday February 26. This is the first day of Lent. Lent is a six week period of time for repentance, reflection and preparation before the Easter celebration of resurrection. The date will vary from year to year based on a lunar calendar.
Leap Day is February 29 and occurs once every four years. This day is added to the calendar in leap years as a corrective measure because the Earth doesn’t orbit the sun in precisely 365 days.
