It's February and a Leap Year!

Hello Everyone,

I cannot believe it but the calendar does not lie. February has arrived again. It is particularly poignant for me as an Aquarian. I'm sure this month comes round more quickly than the other eleven. It doesn't seem five minutes since 

Well, I'm certainly dragging it now with soixante-neuf arriving on Sunday.

Anyway, February, it is the shortest month of the year with only 28 days and 29 every fourth year or leap year and that is 2020! It was named after the Latin term februum which means purification. In the old Roman calendar, February 15th was the full moon and date of the purification festival, Februa. February and January were the last two months added to the Roman calendar by Numa Pompilius round about 713 BC.

Its birth flowers are the violet and common primrose and its birthstone is the amethyst which symbolises piety, humility, sincerity and spiritual wisdom.

Some famous people with February birthdays are: George Washington, Paris Hilton, John McEnroe, Yoko Ono, Thomas Edison, Ronald Reagan, Lisa Marie Presley, Charles Dickens, Morgan Fairchild, Rosa Parks and Moi!

Groundhog Day has been and gone. Today is possibly the most famous day of the month, Valentine's Day . A day when, traditionally, lovers give gifts to their loved ones. Flowers, in particular roses, tend to be the most popular. Consequently, their price shoots up for that day. Commercialism wins every time. What is the history behind this day? Who was St. Valentine?

The Catholic Church has at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One  was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. Emperor Claudius II outlawed marriage for single men because he preferred to have them work as his soldiers leaving married men with families at home. Valentine thought this was really unfair and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. What a romantic! When Claudius found out about this poor Valentine was put to death. I think he deserves to be the saint associated with this special day. Alternatively, there was a Bishop Valentine of Terni, also beheaded by Claudius II outside Rome. Take your pick!

Later this month we have the 29th, the one day which occurs every four years, known as leap day is the 60th day of the Gregorian calendar, leaving 306 until the end of the year or 299 to next Christmas! A complete revolution around the sun takes approximately 365 days and 6 hours. So, every 4 years, an extra day is added to allow for the extra 24 hours.
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Well folks, enjoy the month, in fact enjoy every moment and remember that time only exists in life.

Happy Valentine's Day and have fun,

All my love, Lady M xxxx