This month, we celebrate one of the most popular holidays of the year. February 14th is Valentine’s Day, and you know what that means. This is the day you show that special someone just how much they mean to you, whether it be a significant other, parent, friend or pet—there are cards, candy, gifts and flowers being exchanged on this day of romance.
What you might not realize is that Valentine’s Day is not the only holiday you could be celebrating during this month. February is the shortest month, being only 28 days long, aside from every fourth year due to leap year, which gives it a twenty- ninth day. Still yet, it has several important dates that not many people would think to celebrate–some may not know they even exist.
February is most typically associated with Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, but it is also National Bird-Feeding Month. There are a couple of holidays you may recognize in February, such as Groundhog Day and Presidents Day. February is also the birth month of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22).
In the United States, February is home to Super Bowl Sunday, which is the first Sunday of the month. Many people celebrate on this day because it is the annual championship game of the National Football League.
A few of the lesser-known holidays in February that many neglect to celebrate are World Marriage Day, Candlemas and National Wear Red Day.
World Marriage Day is celebrated the second Sunday in February and it recognizes people’s husbands and wives as the foundation for their families; the basic unit of society. Candlemas, February 2, is a holiday in which Christians attend a feast in honor of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple. National Wear Red Day is a day that people wear red to show their support for the awareness of heart disease. In America, people wear red to recognize this holiday on the first Friday in February.
The holiday season is not over! Now that you know there is more than one reason to celebrate this February, you can plan for various occasions–for yourself or loved ones–to keep the merriment and joy going all month long.
Bethany Mason
Reporter