Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: February
The modern Gregorian calendar we use has roots in the Roman 10-month calendar decreed by Julius Caesar. The names of the months in English all have Latin roots originally based on the Roman months. Most months are named after Roman gods- Janus, Mars, Maia, Juno. July is named after Julius Caesar and August after Augustus Caesar, both declared gods after their death. September through December were named for the Latin numbers nine through 12 — sept, octo, novem, decem. February is an exception, named after the ancient Roman festival of cleansing, atonement and purification, Februa, Latin for purification. This word is also connected to the Latin word for fever, febris, which gives us the English word febrile. Fevers are thought to purify the body through sweating.
Ancient Rome held the purification ritual on Feb. 15 as a celebration for the coming of spring. It sounds like an early historical reference to spring cleaning, but it was celebrated along with the feast of Lupercalia, which was pretty much a drunken orgy. Men sacrificed a goat and a dog, then ran around the city dressed in goat skins and whipping women with strips from the hides of the slain animals. The purification ritual was to promote health and fertility. The word februae refers to the instruments used for purification such as salt for cleaning houses, leaves worn by priests and wool soaked in milk to clean faces.
February is the shortest month of the year, which is good because in North America it tends to be the snowiest. Feb. 2 is Groundhog Day, Feb. 14 is Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day is Feb. 15 and the entire month is African American History Month.
