February is the shortest month of the year, even with 2024 being a Leap Year.
February is also has many fun international holidays.
February 2024 Holidays
Feb. 01: St. Brigid’s Day (Ireland)
Feb. 02: Groundhog Day
Feb. 02: Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas day)
Feb. 09: Brazilian Carnaval
Feb. 10: Chinese New Year (2024 is the year of the Dragon)
Feb. 13: Mardi Gras
Feb. 14: Lent Begins
Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day
Feb. 19: President’s Day (US)
Feb. 29: Leap Day
February is most famous for and synonymous with Valentine’s Day.
Valentine's Day in Mexico is known as Día del amor y la Amistad, which means the day of love and friendship. The day is focused on celebrating friends and family as well as romantic love. February also sports an extra day this year because it is a Leap Year.
Why do we have a February 29 every four years? I had never given it much thought, so I looked it up. It turns out that adding an extra day every four years keeps our seasonal calendar aligned with the astronomical seasons. Now what is an astronomical season? The astronomical calendar is formed by the natural rotation of Earth around the sun, in which we define seasons with two solstices and two equinoxes. Meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle. If we didn’t have a Leap Year every four years the astronomical calendar would eventually un-sync with the meteorological weather; it turns that over a period of about 700 years our summers in the northern hemisphere, would begin to occur in December! Crazy to think about, however the idea of seeing the seasons actually rotating intrigues me. But alas, it is not up to me, and most of us probably won’t live 700 years to see this phenomena run its course … and so this year we will have 366 days instead of 365. Which is an extra day to do something fun, like come to Rocky Point!
Here are some Leap Year facts, legends, and folklore …
- • A Leap Day is the extra day in the leap year.
- • Babies born on Leap Day are called Leaplings.
- • The odds of being born on February 29th are 1 in 1,461. Being born on Leap Day is rarer than being born with 11 fingers and toes (the odds are 1 in 500).
- • According to Irish legend, St. Brigid struck a deal with St. Patrick to allow women to propose to men and every four years on February 29.
- • However, in Greece, getting married in a Leap Year is bad luck.
- • Superman’s birthday is February 29
- • The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620),
- • Benjamin Franklin proved that lightning is electricity (1752),
- • Gold was discovered in California (1848).
- • The Titanic sank (1912).
- • In February 1988 the town of Anthony, Texas, declared itself the Leap Year Capital of the World" and an international Leapling birthday club was started.
Leap Day Numerology
Leap Day occurs on February 29. In terms of numerology, 29 is broken down into 2 + 9 = 11, a number of powerful spiritual awakening
There is even a Leap Day Cocktail, which is a version of the martini, invented by bartender Harry Craddock at London’s Savoy Hotel in 1928. According to the Savoy Cocktail Book, it is said to have been responsible for more proposals than any other cocktail ever mixed!
Recipe:
2 ounces gin
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce orange liqueur (Grand Marnier)
1/4 ounce lemon juice
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour the gin, sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier, and lemon juice.
Stir well.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with a lemon twist.
Cheers!
Enjoy your extra day this year and remember life is better at the beach!
Rocky Point Steph