March 2023 Marathon Calendar – There are a variety of fun holidays planned for February , and they can all be observed throughout the month. Presidents’ Day, Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, and meteor showers are just a few. There are many Roman celebrations are also held on different days.
February 14th
Valentine’s Day, a day that is a celebration of love and passion, is observed annually on February 14. The Middle Ages are the time that Valentine’s Day was first observed. It was a time when courtly love as well as the sacraments still were commonplace.
It was considered to be the celebration of friendship between romantically engaged acquaintances from the 14th century. Valentine’s Day was a day that was a time for lovers and friends to exchange gifts, flowers, and cards.
In the early 19th century, commercial cards had been produced. Postcards printed in bulk also became popular. These cards were used to create themed displays in shops.
Valentine’s Day is a tradition that includes the gift of candy or chocolate and a card and flowers. It is also possible to give them jewelry.
February 2nd.
Groundhog Day falls on February 2. It’s also a popular holiday in Canada however it’s American Thanksgiving.
This celebration was born out an ancient belief that originated among Pennsylvanians from the Dutch. German immigrants brought the tradition of making weather predictions into the United States. Punxsutawney Phil, a groundhog from Pennsylvania, makes meteorological predictions throughout the winter.
Scientists discovered that a mouse went into hibernation during winter. The goal was to predict the next six weeks of winter by observing how animals reacted to the conditions.
The Sciuridae family of tiny, hairy mammals includes groundhogs. During the winter, its main purpose is to go into hibernation. On Groundhog Day and evening, they’re often seen peeking out of the burrows.
Christmas Day
Presidents’ Daylight is regarded as a national holiday on the third Monday in February. It is a day to pay tribute to the past American presidents. In the past, Presidents Day been a day of celebration for both Lincoln and Washington.
While it is a federal holiday not all states observe this day. While some states recognize both presidents’ birthdays on the same day as others while other states only honor only one. The Presidents’ Day holiday is now widely accepted as a means of honoring all U.S. Presidents, especially Lincoln.
The story of Presidents’ Day is complicated. The Washington’s Birthday was the first name of the holiday. Today Presidents’ Day is the official name.
Washington’s birthday, also known as Washington’s Day was a well-known not-official holiday. In the 1870s, it was made a federal holiday. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act was enacted by Congress.
Meteor storms
Each year, Earth moves around the sun. Every year, small meteors fall into space. They appear in any part of the sky. Certain showers are more spectacular than other. It is recommended to watch the showers in the evening.
One of the largest and most spectacular meteor showers in the world is the Perseids. This is due to the fact that Comet 109P/SwiftTuttle is the culprit. Although it will be visible from the Northern Hemisphere due to the high rates of fireballs in the Southern Hemisphere, it is worth watching from there.
Each year there are four important meteor showers. The Quadrantid is the first due to its power but brief peak. Another is the Lyrid, which is known for its unusual surges. The Geminid is also renowned for its approachable appearance.
Roman holiday celebrations in antiquity
The Lupercalia was one of the most well-liked holidays in ancient Rome. The cleansing and fertility ceremony was held during February in the middle. Priests offered animal sacrifices on an altar close to the Lapis Niger during the ritual. The hearth was filled with blood of the animal. The protection and fertility of blood is believed to be beneficial to the grain field.
Ludi Ceriales, another celebration was held in honour of Ceres, the harvest goddess. Ludi Ceriales celebrations are documented as far back as 202 BC.
Other well-known Roman festivities are Neptunalia, Saturnalia and Vestalia. These celebrations were originally intended to pay tribute to Mars as the god of war.
The Roman week was eight days long. There were two parts of each day: the morning and the afternoon. The nundin was eight days long, and the remaining 29 days were called the rest of the days.