Online Encyclopedia

FEBRUARY

Online Encyclopedia
Originally appearing in Volume V10, Page 231 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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FEBRUARY  , the second

month of the
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modern
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calendar . In ordinary years it contains 28 days; but in bissextile or leap
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year, by the addition of the intercalary day, it consists of 29 days . This month was not in the Romulian calendar . In the reign of Numa two months were added to the year, namely,
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January at the beginning, and February at the end; and this arrangement was continued until 452 B.C., when the decemvirs placed February after January . The ancient name of Februarius was derived from februare, to purify, or from Februa, the
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Roman festival of general expiation and
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lustration, which was celebrated during the latter
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part of this month . In February also the
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Lupercalia were held, and
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women were purified by the priests of Pan Lyceus at that festival . The Anglo-
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Saxons called this month Sprout-Kale from the sprouting of the
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cabbage at this season . Later it was known as Solmonath, because of the return of the sun from the low latitudes . The most generally noted days of February are the following:—the 2nd, Candlemas day, one of the fixed quarter days used in Scotland; the 14th, St Valentine's day; and the 24th, St Matthias . The church festival of St Matthias was formerly observed on the 25th of February in bissextile years, but it is now invariably celebrated on the 24th .

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