Now & Then: February: The long, and mostly short, of it

It’s mid-February and I can see the light at the end of the frigid tunnel.

We here in Piedmont North Carolina have had an actual winter this year, with snow and ice and single-digit temperatures. Enough so that the thoughts of many of us run toward sunny beaches, warm walks and storing away the heavy coats. Oh, and breaking out the Bermuda shorts, T-shirts and flip flops.

It’s not surprising to me that Groundhogs Day’s Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. Fast-forward six weeks and you land on March 16, just four days from the vernal equinox, commonly considered the beginning of spring.

Ah spring! When flowers bloom, robin’s eggs hatch and, well, temperatures rise.

But wait. We still have another month before spring and February isn’t going anywhere.

The second month of the year may be the shortest but it’s filled with events. Feb. 1 kicks off Black History Month, which celebrates the contributions of African Americans. On Feb. 2, Groundhogs Day reminds us we’re still winter-bound.

The Super Bowl waves a checkered flag at the end of the football season and the Daytona 500 kicks off another NASCAR campaign. 

Valentine’s Day is known for love and romance. And those dealing commercially in candy and flowers have a special fondness for the holiday.

Presidents’ Day, on Feb. 16 this year, was founded to honor George Washington. Now it recognizes all presidents, whether or not they were born in February. They have to share since there aren’t enough days in February for each chief executive to have his own holiday.

One of the oddest, and rarest, occasions is Leap Day. Celebrated every four years when Feb. 29 is added to the calendar, those born on that day are typically the youngest members of their high school class reunion. Does that mean they get a prize? Hmm.

In my research of February, I learned that January and February were the last months added to the calendar. Back in the day, the powers-that-be considered the time between December and March as too cold to deserve month-hood. According to The Surprising History of February, “The month was added to the 10-month Roman calendar by King Numa Pompilius in 713 B.C. to align it with the solar cycle. February’s name comes from the Latin word ‘februum,’ meaning ‘purification,’ and is linked to the name of the Roman god Februus.”

It’s unclear to me if Februus was the shortest Roman god.

Unfortunately, after January was rewarded with 31 days, there were only 28 days left for poor ol’ February. So they gave it one more day every four years to help make up for the humiliation.

Another special day that gives February more respect is Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, held in New Orleans. The Mardi Gras season can begin days in advance and is celebrated with jubilant music, street celebrations and parades. It’s one last party before the Lent fasting season of 40 days.

Mardi Gras was Feb. 17 this year, so it looks like I missed out on the fun.

I can’t leave this column about February without giving you options for observing the month. Since it’s one of the coldest times of the year in North Carolina, why not celebrate the month where it’s warm?

I found these locations for spending February: Hawaii, with average temperatures between 71 and 80; Palm Springs, Calif., with highs around 75; Puerto Rico, topping out at near 85 degrees.

If you prefer to get out of the U.S., you might consider Bangkok, Thailand, at 82 degrees, or St. Lucia in the Caribbean heating up to 85.

Or you can stay home, where the forecast through the end of February calls for lows down to 27 degrees and highs up to 74. 

Not bad for winter. Or for February.

■ Larry Penkava is a writer for Randolph Hub. 

■ Contact: 336-302-2189, larrypenkava@gmail.com.