Months :: February
What's in a Name?
February, and January incidentally, were introduced onto the Roman calendar by Numa Pompilous when the calendar was extended from ten months to twelve. The word February comes from the word 'februa', meaning cleansing or purification, a concept that reflects the rituals undertaken before Spring.
Anglo Saxons called February Sol-monath (cake-month), because cakes were offered to the gods during tht month. February was also known to the Saxons as 'sprout-kale' from the sprouting of cabbage or kale.
Having only 28 days in non-leap years, February was known in Welsh as 'y mis bach' which means "the little month". In Elizabethan England, about 400 years ago, the second month of the year was called Feverell. In Isaac Newton's time one hundred years later it had become Februeer. The modern name, February, is only about a hundred years old.
February's Child
If the February-born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If she the Amethyst will wear
Weather Lore
February; fill the dyke
either with the black or white.
If it’s white, the better to like.
When February give much snow,
A fine summer dost foreshow
Of all the months in the year
Curse a fair Februeer
When the cat lies in the sun in February
She will creep behind the stove in March.
If it thunders in February, it will frost in April.
Correspondences
Magical Action – Motivation, Healing, Movement
Birthstone - Amethyst
Flower - Violet
Continue to March