February: the second month of the year — calendar, history, and facts

Name and history

The name "February" is derived from Latin and is often linked to the Roman purification rites known as februa or to the god Februus associated with those rites. In early Roman calendars the year's structure and the placement of February changed several times: at one stage it was the last month of a ten-month year and later became the second month after reforms. The modern arrangement of February with 28 or 29 days dates from adjustments that stabilized the calendar for civil and astronomical use.

Calendar patterns and anomalies

February shows a number of predictable relationships with other months. In common years it begins on the same weekday as both March and November; in leap years it begins on the same weekday as August. February always ends on the same weekday as October, and in common years it also shares its final weekday with January. These patterns arise from the mixture of 28- and 29-day lengths and the arrangement of month lengths elsewhere in the year.

Occasionally, political or calendrical reforms have produced anomalous Februaries. For example, one northern European country briefly used a 30-day February in the early 18th century to correct calendar drift, and in the early 1930s the government of the Soviet Union experimented with equal-length months and other calendar reforms that altered February's length for a short period (notably around 1930 and 1931). More recently, 29 February appeared in 2020 because that year met the leap-year criteria under the Gregorian rules.

Seasonal and cultural significance

In the Northern Hemisphere, February is typically a winter month and often associated with late-winter weather; in the Southern Hemisphere it corresponds to late summer. A number of widely observed events or traditions fall in February: for example, Valentine's Day on 14 February, and several national and international commemorations and awareness months. Some movable observances—such as certain lunar new-year celebrations—can fall in late January or February depending on the lunar cycle. Astrologically, February covers the signs of Aquarius and Pisces, and common traditional birth symbols include the amethyst as the birthstone and flowers such as the violet.

Notable facts and quick reference

• Shortest month in the Gregorian civil calendar; 28 days usually, 29 in leap years.
• Leap years are determined by the Gregorian rule: every 4th year is a leap year, but years divisible by 100 are not, unless they are also divisible by 400.
• Has several fixed-date holidays and many movable observances linked to religious, cultural, or astronomical calendars.
• Displays clear weekday-alignment patterns with March, November, August, October, and January.

For readers wanting to explore calendars, leap-year mechanics, or cultural observances in more detail, consult resources on calendar history and contemporary civil calendars. See also links on common and leap year concepts for practical examples of how February is handled in different systems.

Related: month overview • Related: year • Julian calendar • Gregorian calendar • Common years • Leap years • Sweden • 18th century context